Deep Press In

To knock on death's door is a blessing; to walk in is another story. Author Phara Clermont has faced both. After ten years of dealing with depression and anxiety, she has decided to share her perspective on her experiences. Deep Press In details Phara's battle with depression, anxiety, and anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare and newly discovered autoimmune disorder, which was first diagnosed in 2007. Before her diagnosis, she wrote poetry about her decade-long battles with depression, anxiety, and life traumas. But the sudden tragedy of her diagnosis pushed her to write more. This complex autoimmune disorder put Phara in a waking coma for over two months. Through the grace of a higher power, however, she has survived her ordeal and is ready to tell her story.SecretsMy body holds secrets.Secrets it refuses to share with me.Where did I go, and why is it impossible for me to see?I push myself to recall through the darkness of empty memories, but my body keeps it blank so I can breathe.How wicked was the experience for my body to save me from the memories?It makes me wonder about the frightening possibilities.