Let's see what Pete has to say.

Hey everyone. 

It’s nice to talk with you all again. My name’s Pete, or Peter, whichever you prefer. I’ve introduced

myself before, so let’s skip the formalities. You’ve probably noticed by now: I don’t really blog like other people do.

I ramble. A lot.

For the longest time, I never knew what to write about. I’ve got plenty of stories, but there’s this voice in my head that always says, “What you have to say isn’t worth listening to.” That’s how I was raised, to believe that speaking up wasn’t for people like me. It’s sad, yeah, but it’s the truth. And the wild part? I didn’t even realize my childhood was rough until I was an adult. I just thought my parents knew best. Looking back, I can see they were doing what they thought was right, but they were also working off their own broken blueprints. It’s a cycle, you know? One I’m trying not to keep repeating.

What really opened my eyes was my wife, Jen, you know, the other half of our Media Team here at Clearview. She showed me a world I didn’t even know I was missing. Before her, everything in my life was filtered through someone else’s approval, my parents, my friends, my teachers. She helped me start seeing things for myself.

That’s also what led me to get real about my mental health. I’ve dealt with depression since middle school, though I didn’t understand what that meant at the time. I’ve been on antidepressants for most of my life, and honestly, they’re one of the main reasons I’m still here. There’s no shame in that. Medication doesn’t make you someone else; it helps you become who you were always meant to be.

Along the way, I got diagnosed with anxiety and ADD, sorry, ADHD (the name keeps evolving faster than I can keep up). Between therapy, medication, and a whole lot of trial and error, I’ve learned that healing isn’t a finish line. It’s maintenance. It’s showing up for yourself even when you don’t feel worth showing up for.

Then one day I just hit the bottom. I got angry, hopeless, and close to giving up. That’s when I joined a Partial Hospitalization Program, basically day treatment for people trying to rebuild their footing. You’re there all day, learning tools to manage emotions, thoughts, and triggers. It’s not some quick fix. It’s work.

But it helped me. A lot. 

It gave me language for what I was feeling, and a space where I didn’t have to pretend I was okay. I just wish more people had access to that kind of help, because in this country, mental health care still feels like a privilege instead of a right.

Anyway, I’m not here to preach or throw a pity party. I just wanted to share a bit of my story, not because it’s perfect, but because it’s real. If even one person reads this and feels a little less alone, then it’s worth sharing.

Thanks for sticking around and listening. If you ever want to chat, drop a comment below or email us at media@clearviewworks.org. See you next time.

—Pete