On Mental Health & Depression: There is A Way Out, I Promise.
by Joey | Aug 13, 2014 | Throwback |
When I hear about someone suffering from mental health, my heart absolutely breaks. It’s something no one really talks about. It’s something that gets pushed under the rug. Be happy, people say. As if it were all so simple.
Being sad might be the most crippling of all the emotions. Can you imagine a sadness so great that it makes you want to disappear into nothingness? Imagine your worst moment, then imagine someone living in that state constantly. Could your heart take it? I know mine couldn’t.
I imagine my worst day. Despite the blur of tears, that day is so clear. My heart remembers the sadness so well that sometimes I have to remind it not to feel that way all the time. Because sadness doesn’t go away, it doesn’t. It’s something you carry with you forever, the difference is that we learn how to carry it. We learn how to let it exist without it defining our every moment. And if you’re lucky, you have people who help you carry it. I think that makes all the difference.
I pinned this image ages ago…
And I thought…how very true. How very tragic. To be surrounded by the wrong kinds of people. To allow people into our lives who do nothing for us but make us feel more lonely than before. And I thought how lucky I was to have this ever growing system of support. From people who hardly know me to people who actually love me.
If I’m being one hundred percent honest here, I was depressed in 2013. It was mild, but it was real. And for a person who is typically just happy, it was something I didn’t understand. A general sadness veiled my heart. I let life get in, and I couldn’t get it out. I was on the edge of a breakdown constantly. Life has a way of doing that to even the happiest of people sometimes. I’m not ashamed of it. I’m a strong person, but I wasn’t strong enough for 2013. I just wasn’t. But the thing is, I had people. I didn’t have to pretend. I didn’t have to keep up an appearance. I was sad. I was a kind of sad I’d never, ever known. And it was okay.
And then, finally, the sadness lifted. But all the while, I had people in my corner. They weren’t pulling or pushing. They were just there, standing with me, holding my hand. And it made all the difference.
If you are suffering in any way, please please don’t feel like you have to be ashamed. Please don’t let the world make you think it’s not okay. Because being sad is okay. And you don’t have to be strong all of the time. And there is a way out of the sadness, I promise.
1800-273-8255
Well put, Joey! *hugs*
Agree with this 100%!! it's not just something that is easily "fixed" or you can even find the words to tell people why you feel the way you do, you just do sometimes. Well said!
Sometimes it is hard for people who have never been truly depressed to understand someone that always is. The greatest thing you can do is just be there for someone and hope it's enough. I lost one of my best friends to suicide when I was in high school. I used to think it was a selfish….but now I totally get it. I think it should be something that is talked about more. To let people know that they aren't alone.
What a great and powerful message! Depression and mental health problems are so not talked about and so serious. I am so glad to hear you had people there for you. I wish everyone suffering for any reason had the proper support system.
Love this, I completely agree! I'm so sad about Robin Williams but if one good thing came out of this tragedy it's that it got people talking about mental health!
Such a great post! So sad about Robin Williams…he will be so missed. Even though the stigma that comes with depression and other mental health related topics is *slowly* lifting, it's definitely something that needs to be discussed more. People need to know that they're not alone!
I couldn't be happier or more thankful for the wonderful support system i have in my life. I know when I am feeling down and out, they will pick me up with out fail! I am so sorry Robin didn't feel as though he had that đ
This is such a great post Joey. I'm so sad about Robbin Williams and it makes me feel about some of my darkest times. the end of 2010 and the beginning of 2011 were some of my worst times ever, the darkness was so dark, but like you I had my people, the ones that held onto my light until I was ready to let it shine again. I'm so thankful for them
I love how honest you are in this post, something that's never easy to talk about, but often feels so much better once it's out there– and it's always comforting to know you're not alone and that your story really can make a big difference.
I just clicked over from your New Years post and wanted to say thank you for sharing this. I've been there too, and as you said, it is very real. I know that sometimes people who haven't been in that place just can't understand what it's like or what would drive someone to do something like this, but I can't help but think how lucky they are to not know what that feels like. I'm glad you were able to pull yourself out and that you had people there to help you through it! That definitely makes a big difference.