New York veteran shares experience with depression

Trauma can result in a number of different mental illnesses, ranging from post-traumatic stress disorder to depression. For one New York man, his experience in the armed forces and the crumbling of his marriage was enough to push him over the edge.

Tyrone Garrett began to exhibit signs of mania in 1983 while serving in the United States Air Force, according to the New York Times. He has been hospitalized more than a dozen times for his depression before he decided to face the reality of his illness.

"I was in denial for a very long time about having a psychiatric disorder," Garrett told the news source. "Now I take my medication religiously."

Garrett has been on medication for bipolar disorder and depression since 1986. He now spends his time helping other individuals with mental health illnesses as a wellness coach across the state.

Major depressive disorder is the leading cause for disability in individuals between the ages of 15 and 44, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Rehabilitation facilities can provide individuals with the resources they need to manage the condition and live normal lives.