On this #WorldMentalHealthDay ….(2019)
It’s #WorldMentalHealthDay and I wanted to talk about things I don’t always discuss on here, cause, well people. But it’s important, and I’d be remiss in my duty as a @TakeThisOrg stream ambassador not to, especially on today.
I have anxiety, depression, and body dysmorphia. The first two affect me in the usual ways, the third comes and goes, but lately it’s been hanging around like an unwelcome guest. The anxiety is always there, just lying in wait most days. Some days it takes the wheel, informing everything I do, say, think, etc. It’s something I have previously taken medication for, when it affected my quality of life. I’m not on meds now, but there is no shame in taking them if needed.
The depression hovers as well, and some days; especially the last few months it’s like a dark cloud that threatens to rain by drizzling on you constantly before it just dumps on you at the worst time, drenching you in what feels like tar, or makes you fall into a void.
This comic by Sylvie Reuter has always been a go to for how I would try to put depression (for me) into words. The body dysmorphia is it’s own special hell. This medium piece I did expresses it far better than I can in tweets this morning. (Anxiety is creeping in even as I type, convincing me no one cares about this & I should stop whining).
Why even share this? Because we don’t talk about it enough, we don’t share these struggles. Often because people just ignore depression, write it off as everyone is sad sometimes. Which isn’t true, not by a long shot. Being sad once in a while != depression. Often people will tell you it’s not so bad, just “BE BETTER” like you can magically will yourself into not being depressed, anxious or hating how you look and feel. Were it just so simple, why did no one think of that?! (sarcasm btw)
Or they tell you eat quinoa, do yoga, think positive!, or some other bullshit that’s supposed to “fix” you. Again, none of that is a fix, or a one size fits all temp tactic to what is a long term mental health issue. So today, and going forward think about these things. If you’re thinking you know no one who struggle with mental illness; the truth is that they probably don’t feel they can trust you with this. Especially if you think on things you’ve said in passing, without thought.
Mental illness isn’t some moral failing, something you can fix if you just try hard enough and fails if you don’t want to to be “fixed”. It’s a lot more than that and you are not broken, unlovable or unwanted if you have mental illness. If someone opens up to you today, listen, be kind and be thankful they have trust in you to disclose these things to you. Don’t try to fix, or judge or be sorry. Be their friend, because that’s what they likely need in that moment; more than apologies. ❤
