Abbey Hymas

Mrs. Tuescher

English 2010

14 May 2019

Interview Questions

1) How would you define anxiety?

2) What does it feel like to have anxiety?

3) How would you define depression?

4) What does it feel like to have depression?

5) What connections can be made between the two? How do they affect each other?

6) From what you have told me before, you have suffered from depression for awhile now. When

did you start noticing that this mental illness was affecting your life? Did it change you in

anyway?

7) How has having depression affected you at each different stage of life? Teen? Young single

adult? Married adult? Mom?

8) What have you done to help get yourself through the tough times?

9) What suggestions or helpful advice would you give to people who are also struggling with

depression?

10) Any other comments?

 Interview Reflection

My interview I conducted wasn’t the “typical interview”. Some of my questions had been

partially answered when I had talked to Dr. Heidi Vawdrey, before at previous doctor

appointments but to further my understanding, I asked some of the same questions again so I

would be able to dig deeper into those concepts. Unfortunately, due to both of our busy

schedules, I was not able to meet in person to conduct a proper interview, instead, I emailed my

questions to my interviewee. Nevertheless I still received very valuable answers to all of my

questions. Not only did they complete the assignment, but they also help me in my life right now.

At the forefront of the interview, I simply asked Dr. Vawdrey to define and describe both

anxiety and depression. Her definitions were no different than what I had read for my research

project which really established her credibility, but what really struck me was the way she

described what having anxiety feels like. Part of her explanation included, “It's getting bogged

down in the minutiae, of ruminating over things that you could have/would have/should have

said, or replaying what you did say and feeling bad about it. It's laying down at night with your

mind racing and unable to settle down to allow you to go to sleep and waking up again at 2 a.m.

with your mind still racing. It's worrying about death by tornado/hurricane/earthquake rather

than being able to enjoy the present moment. It's dwelling in possibilities instead of

probabilities.”

I also was very inspired when reading about the steps she took to help get herself through

the tough times. “For a while, I was really in to distance running and races. That gave me

something to focus on and stay motivated, a reason to have structure in my schedule… I'd take to

the trails on the hillside behind the University during my lunch break between classes. I have a
group of excellent friends that I am fortunate to be able to reach out to when I need. I tend to

drown my sorrows in service, but have learned the balance of enough service to help me feel

better and not so much that I'm left exhausted. I now guard my sleep and monitor my nutrition,

which helps a ton. I see my counselor when I need to. And sometimes I just allow myself to feel

sad, and I have learned to allow myself self compassion…” What a great opportunity I had to

interview my doctor. I have learned so much and am inspired with new ideas to use when

necessary.