Song4

Hans from Stanwood, Washington shares his experience of dealing with depression in his teenage years. He felt ashamed to admit his depression and tried to hide it, but found solace in the friendship of his friend Ashley. They would listen to U2's song "With or Without You" and she helped him through his dark times. Hans emphasizes the power of lasting impressions and the influence of friends in overcoming struggles. He expresses gratitude to Ashley and his other friends for reminding him that life is a gift and friendship helps get through difficult times. That was Stay on U2xRadio. I'm Hans from Stanwood, Washington, and these are five songs that I desire most. Chapter Four, With or Without You Growing up in a household with three brothers and three sisters, I was born right in the middle. It was chaos learning to become my own, and it wasn't easy. I dealt with depression in my teen years. My mind was full of insecurities that filled my mind with a negative depiction of who I was. I never wanted to be a negative thorn in anyone's side. At the time in the 90s, even talking about depression was a taboo. I felt that if you admit that you are depressed, then you are mental. You are less than anyone else. I tried to hide it, and it wasn't easy either. Even talking to a therapist, I was ashamed to admit my depression. Depression was a self-inflicting demon that I dealt with. The positive is that I had a core of brothers from another mother who were always around me, like John, Ahmed, Ben, Mike, and my older brother, Peter. However, it was hard to share my honest vulnerabilities with my buddies at that time. I will say that God does find ways to help us cope with our struggles. I developed a great friendship with my friend, Ashley. She was always there to listen to me, even if she was tired of listening to me. Many times, we would go to early morning church seminary before school, and we ended up at McDonald's instead. Or when we drove to the high school from seminary, we listened to various CDs, which included U2. When I asked her to prom, I did it with the song, With or Without You. I did it in an elaborate way of asking that was way overboard. And luckily, my fear of her rejecting me didn't happen. She was one that kept me from the darkness and out of my depressive state of mind when I needed it. Later on in life, after school, our paths went on our own different adventures, as well for my buddies. The song, With or Without You, reminds me regardless where we are in life, the lasting impressions, kindness, provide hope. There is a power of influence of a person that is in our lives. But when she saw a thorn twist in my side of depression, she helped me remember that life can go on regardless of the demons we face. So thank you, Ashley. And my dear friends of seeing that life isn't a burden, but a gift. And it is friendship to get through any difficult times. So here to you, With or Without You.