Let Me Speak - Daniel

My wife doesn't have patience with my father or sister, especially because their bipolar illness makes them irresponsible with money. But, she has been so awesome with me when I had depression on and off. I am so thankful for her support.

Let Me Speak - Cara

I have been on medication for postpartum as well as for anxiety ever since perimenopause started nine years ago. Medication helps me.

Let Me Speak - Melissa

My husband has an uncle who is currently being institutionalized for a combination of alcoholism and bipolar disorder. It's been a tough few weeks so far.

Let Me Speak - Natalie

My father and sister are bipolar, but are not being treated. My mother is doing the best she can as a caregiver, but they give her so much needless stress.

Let Me Speak - Emma

I have survivors guilt and I'm still processing moving forward in this new reality. I don't blame myself. I just miss her. But, I'm focusing on the good and rebuilding. Hopefully, I can help others along the way.

Let Me Speak - Marc

Honesty and sharing our stories...our truth, is the best way to remove the social stigma of any kind of depression. We are all struggling in our own ways. I always thought I was well versed in the signs. But after my brother suddenly died, even though I saw my girlfriend and was communicating with her...sending her love & support, I maybe missed some signs. I don’t know. In hindsight I see them. I go over and over in my head what I could have done or said differently. She was sounding so much better. And I was days away from seeing her again. When she sent me a video of her blowing me a kiss, I smiled and wrote something silly back to her. I didn’t know she was kissing me goodbye. I think about that a lot. I just don’t want what happened to her to happen to anyone else. Be kind to yourself. Be kind to others.

Let Me Speak - Andrew

Depression & Regrets

I haven’t been on FB or social media much the last couple of years. But when i do, i have noticed that depression & people struggling with depression seem more common on social media lately. Maybe it’s just amplified by the current divisive political climate we seem to live in. The tribalism. And the anxiety that can cause. Or the rash of high profile suicides of people we admired like Robin Williams & Anthony Bourdain who seemingly had it all...that makes us seem even more hopeless about our own situations. 

Maybe for some it’s truly genetic or chemical. Or being at an age where regrets can suddenly weigh heavy & crush our normally positive spirits. Or perhaps it’s an illness that rocks our world, and leaves us asking endless loop questions like ‘why me?’ Or maybe it’s the sudden loss of a loved one, or two, or three that has caused you to plunge into darkness & despair. 

Whatever it is, there is no more helpless feeling than true depression. The darkness. The seeming hopelessness. Or pointlessness of it all. Of being stuck in a moment you can’t get out of. I may not have been much help the last few years to those struggling, but I have been there. I am there.

My grief counselor said to let go of all the ‘should haves’ and ‘wasn’t suppose to bes’ about Tommy & Mara...that they are only regrets. And regrets are just thoughts about the past crippling us in the present.

Good advice. But does it really help when we are at our darkest?

I am not here to offer a panacea or cute phrase that will magically lift you out of depression. I don’t think such simplistic answers always reach us in our darkest moments. However true they may be. 

If things are truly bad. Reach out to a friend. Or call a hotline. For someone to listen.

Maybe your darkness won’t let you take such action. Please do. But if you can’t or won’t...just know this...these feelings tend to come in waves. And they DO pass. Sometimes they feel like they won’t. But they will. 

My advice, if I have any, is to ride it out. Just hang in there for another moment. Another hour. Another day. Distract yourself any way you can. Don’t give into the darkness. And it will lift. Even just a little to give you a glimmer of hope. And then you can take some positive action...until the next wave hits.

Be kind to yourself & those around you

Let Me Speak - Maureen

My depression comes and goes in waves. Every once in a while a huge surfer-sized wave comes along. I've recently climbed out of that one. It's never easy. I try to stay strong and keep swimming. The tides always turn ... eventually.

#NeverAgain

First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist

Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist

Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist

Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew

Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me

First they came for the Muslims
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Muslim

Then they came for the asylum seekers
And I did not speak out
Because I was not an asylum seeker

Then they came for the children
And I did not speak out
Because we have dehumanized mankind

How many deaths will it take this time?
Because the first poem is about the holocaust
And we, all, are letting it happen again

Why aren't children in cages
On the first page
Of every newspaper in America all days?

Why aren't the bots and trolls
Transmitting this message
So we can love

#Again