Beyond the Blues
Understanding depression is difficult; hear from Psyche's community of peers on their experiences with this mood disorder.
The Depression No One Talks About
In our society, I often see depression portrayed as "extreme sadness" or people who attempt to end their own lives. I know that there are people who reach that low and find that their will to climb the ladder of happiness is wasting away. Some people have the ability to overcome it, if they are given the resources (enough money, enough time, love, etc). And then, some people are too good at playing pretend.
By Digtzy Dog8 years ago in Psyche
Depression
Depression is not something we choose to have. Depression is not a choice. Depression is an illness that lots of people suffer from, including myself. I have dealt with this illness for many of years and nothing seems to help. I was told to go talk to a therapist. Maybe they could help. So I tried it and I didn’t feel judged at all but a little part of me wondered what they would think when I walked out of that room. Would everything I just expressed to a total stranger just not matter anymore? I deal with problems every day and everything I do affects the way I feel and my mood and my presence. There are lots of girls and boys, women and men, anyone out there that knows exactly what I’m talking about... we just are calling for help from people that really care. Not just for a moment but forever and won’t stop until we feel ok. Depression is a disease. Please don’t ignore someone when they are reaching out for you for help. Look at the symptoms. Be a good listener. That’s all we really want: for someone to really care, so we won’t feel alone.
By Tiffany Romaine8 years ago in Psyche
What Led Me to My Suicide Attempt
My depression soon started getting really bad. It got so bad I started calling into my job saying I was sick. Eventually, I just ended up in bed phone off, lights off, curtains closed. All I wanted to do was sleep. I kept hoping to close my eyes, fall into a deep sleep, and not wake up. I refused to eat, go out, talk to people, and leave my room. I tried desperately to find anyone to talk to about what was going on. Still, everyone shut me out and told me my problems and issues weren’t important enough for them.
By Shae Thompson8 years ago in Psyche
Sorrow
Have you ever felt sorrow? The kind that takes its time sitting on your chest, not clawing, not sharp, just there. It reaches out sometimes and grabs at the things you hold dear, and to you, it’s just heavy and overbearing but ultimately fine, but to others it’s dangerous. And they tell you so and you listen for a little bit but the sorrow reaches out again and now it has claws, now it’s sharp and it hurts people and it takes pieces of people. And it holds those pieces, has a ring of people’s flesh around its neck, and it gets heavier and heavier because of it.
By Hannah Javens8 years ago in Psyche
Depression Without Shame
There is a stigma about depression and other mental illnesses. You think there is something wrong with you or that you're damaged. You think you may be going crazy and that it is better to hide it and keep it bottled up. If no one knows, if it doesn't come out and you can hide it well, then it doesn't exist. Right?
By Erika Farrah8 years ago in Psyche
Exposing the Darkness from Inside
Recently there has been a great deal of news regarding suicide, what with Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade recently taking part in the act. While that has sparked more conversation regarding suicide and mental illness once more, I know it will soon fade until another celebrity off's him or herself; a week or two will pass, and then the conversation about the prevalence rates of mental illness and how serious it can be will fade once more. The cycle will continue to repeat until society changes.
By Zellie Wicker8 years ago in Psyche
The Gardener's Guide to Mental Health.
Let’s face it: life can be crazy. It can get so fast paced that you often question the reasons why you’re on this merry-go-round in the first place. It seemed, to me at least, that everyone has this perfect life. Instagram posts of guys with ripped muscles or in stunning locations, all designed to show firstly how perfect their lives are and secondly creating Insta-Validation supposedly making their lives feel more complete while giving them an insta-hit of Dopamine. Now please don’t misunderstand me, I’m not saying everyone is like this. Yes, there are people on Instagram who are proud of their achievements and that’s superb but for everyone of those, there are an abundance seeking approval through your likes to help them navigate their emotional journey and make their lives seem less mundane.
By Chris O'Hanlon8 years ago in Psyche
My Great Escape
When the burden of the conversation became too great, I quickly made the necessary excuses and ended the call, allowed the tears to dampen my face—and it seems my spirit—for only a moment longer after that. The darkness of the night blanketed me in more ways than one. I was in a foreign country where I didn't speak the native language, with foreign people who didn’t understand me much. That thought was acceptable to me though. That’s been mostly the tune of the song that is my life. This is exactly why I was here all by my lonesome on one of the Thousand Islands. It was small enough for me to walk its perimeter in a couple of hours. There was a beautiful feeling in that realisation. It was only the beginning of an illustrious rap sheet of mental health (I use the phrase sarcastically of course). The depression had already started and the social contracts that dictated normalcy were becoming harder with each passing day. I put the phone where I couldn’t hear it any longer, took my shoes off, and started walking the length of the beach.
By Ayesha Javed8 years ago in Psyche
