I had to post something today, and this seemed like the most appropriate forum.
On my facebook this morning, my friend posted this :
DEPRESSION is not a sign of weakness it is a sign that you have been trying to be strong for too long, without adequate supports or help. Put this as your status if you know someone who has or has had depression. Most people wont, but it's mental health week and 1 in 5 of us will suffer some point in our lives. Show your support!!
He is a sufferer of depression and I know a few people who struggle with depression or anxiety. It's a common misconception (and one I was guilty of too) that depression is because someone chooses to be sad, or they just want attention.
I need you to know that this is not the case. I suffered depression as a side effect of a contraceptive. It made me miserable, cry at the drop of a hat, snap at the people I loved most and even though I KNEW, I KNEW I had no reason to be sad, I just couldn't shake it. It is, quite honestly, the most horrible thing I've been through and after a couple of months I decided it wasn't worth it and went off it. I'm now back to my normal, silly, happy self. Sure I get sad, but it's not the same unbearable, unrelenting sadness.
If you are feeling like you know what I'm talking about, it's ok. There are ways to deal with it, sometimes it's drugs, sometimes it's learning to spot the signs. You do not need to feel sad. The cloud around your head keeping the happy out and the sad in, is not normal. It's ok to ask for help.
If you think your friends could be suffering, be there for them and encourage them that it's ok to seek help, it's ok to be unbearably sad, but it's also ok to fight their way out of it.
I hope you'll take this as it's intended and think twice before judging people with depression or anxiety. They can not help it. I was lucky enough to be able to get out of it... some people have to fight a little harder.
Please support them.
B x
10 comments:
To the person who left the Anonymous comment. I know her, not personally, but I've followed her blog for a long time now.
I've left a comment recently saying she needs to seek help too.
And you're right to be concerned. She doesn't sound healthy. Her words don't sound well and full. She sounds sad. She needs to see someone. Please encourage her to do so. Feel free to email me if you wish. liv.bambola@gmail.com
I am glad she has you, as you will know her better than i do. I hope she will get better. I truly do. She has the potential for such a full heart, she used to. I don't know what changed.
All my love to A and yourself
Liv B xx
Thankyou.
Her best friend (I don't know her personally) tried to commit suicide a while back and I guess she never really got over it, and I really don't know how to approach her.
How can I?
And her family isn't all that supportive and most of her friends don't realise.
I think she feels like she'll just let everyone down, and I don't know how to tell her otherwise, because she's always been the happy one and I wish I could do something, but I don't know what.
I know I need to be there for her more than ever now, but I just don't quite know what to do.
Sorry, to have to comment through here, but I would rather remain anonymous.
That's awful to hear!!
I don't know what anyone is "supposed" to say in these situations. Tell her you love her. Tell her your there for her.
For information : A doctor can prescribe that you see a psychologist and it will be covered with Medicare for the set number of sessions.
Suggest it. Go with her.
Even if all you say is
"A, I love you and I know something is wrong. Have you thought of talking to someone about it? I think it would be a good idea. It's subsidised through Medicare. I'll go with you. You don't have to be worried. I'll be there."
Honestly honey, I have no idea what to say. Different people deal with it differently. Some people aren't aware they're actually depressed. Some people refuse to be helped. Some people are simply DYING for someone to see how much they're hurting.
I understand your need to be anonymous & that's fun. Please do this for her.
*fine. not fun.
I have suffered from depression before. Sometimes the one thing that makes it feel really lonely is because no-one "gets it".
I hope that in time the stigma and misconceptions will disappear or relent some.
I still have flashes of it but I am so lucky that I have loved ones who understand when I talk to them so it does make it easier to find my way out.
I wish that everyone could have that support.
x
Glad to see your post liv...
I know what it is. And in regards to the comments above... yes it feels lonely and sad because no one really "gets" it. It's an experience, that I don't wish upon anyone. But if you don't experience it, you will never get it.
How can someone help? I don't know. I really don't know.
I hope everything works out, noone should have to feel that way.
best of luck & my love x
great write ups.
Really lovely blog
http://seraluxe.blogspot.com
you are actually amazing. i'm so glad i stumbled across your page. i understand this all too well, my first yr of high school saw me suffer depression for what seemed ongoing. i couldn't cope and as cliche as it may seem, having the support of my family helped me through such a difficult period. it's hard to believe i was once this way, because now i am the bubbliest, craziest girl.
thankyou for this post.
xx
I have suffered from depression for a few years.
Post a Comment