Welcome - If this works out, then this will be a blog of positive thoughts, fun and inspiration. I welcome your input and invite you to share things you find inspirational. However I reserve the right to post only things that fall within the intent of the this blog.

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Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Words from the Depth of Knowing




Robin Williams suicide has taken the world by storm, how could someone who appeared so funny and full of joy suffer from depression that was so bad it took his life. 

Depression reaches into many families including my own, my husband suffers from it, and hid it for many years until the day he sat on the couch and told me he wanted to die, and somehow I missed all the signs until that very moment.  I now worry on a daily basis about his mental health and I think that in some ways makes it worse for him, but I have his back as much as I can, and I have to trust in his honesty when I ask the question "Are You Okay".

My youngest daughter also suffers from depression and there have been times when I have been able to do nothing except be there stroking her hair and letting her wrap herself up in my warm, cuddly blue blanket, or to sit with her in hospital waiting rooms, or to be her advocate when she struggled to find her voice ... all the while praying she would find the strength to come out the other side. 

Yesterday she posted on Face Book and her words touched my soul and I asked her if I could share them here, for while I too suffer some dark days, true depression has thankfully so far left me alone.

The words in red that follow are spoken by one who has been to the bottom of the dark hole many, many times and has found the strength to keep rising back up.  I hope and pray she continues to do that each and every day.



Her original post:

Remember, kids... Depression lies. It tells you dirty, nasty, naughty lies. Reach out, ask for help and more importantly, create a support system when you feel WELL so that people can recognise when you're not okay. More often than not, I can't speak the words out loud when I'm at the bottom of the hole but I use a certain song lyric which both my wife and my Mum recognise as code for I need help. 
Depression lies. 
Vale, Mr Williams.


Her replies to comments from friends:

One of the things I struggle with the most is not being able to talk about being depressed when I am depressed. I think that's the most dangerous part. I can talk about it when I'm well but when I'm not, I literally cannot get the words out. I've had to find other ways to let people know so that they can make sure I'm safe and okay. It's a horrible thing and I hate it with a fiery passion but unfortunately, sometimes that's not enough. Sometimes it wins and I feel like the only thing we can do is talk about it more openly and honestly. Shine a light or something...


In the interests of openness and honesty, if I ever post: 

Too much time in one day

Too much time to occupy

Boring thoughts

And boring moods

And boring bedtimes


That's the magic code and I am not okay.


I'm happy to talk about it because I think it is really important and for people who don't suffer from it, it can be difficult to understand.

It is a daily, moment by moment and sometimes second by second fight. It is relentless. It's like constantly being pursued by something you can't see and often, it is the moment you relax and take a breath that it swoops in and you're drowning in it again. 


There are things I do on a daily basis that keep me on top of it but I have to practice those things daily and even then, it's not foolproof.

That's why it is so important that people talk about it when they're well because once you're depressed, it's really easy for it to be too late.

You have to be honest about it and that's really, really hard. It's hard to tell your family, friends, work peeps and bosses that you have a mental illness but it's super important that you do.

Those are the people who may very well save your life one day. 


I once spent an entire day sitting on the floor with my boss because there was nothing else I could do and he wanted to make sure I was okay.

One time I had to ask him to call me every morning for almost a month so that I could make sure I got out of bed and went to work even if I wasn't capable of actually doing my job and he did it and I kept breathing and eventually I felt better.

You always feel better eventually but it's the people around you who help you get to eventually. Those people save your life.
 

I remember once having to ask my baby brother to remove his razor from the bathroom when I was in the depths of depression. That was not an easy thing to do. I was scared because I was tired of fighting and when you're tired of fighting it can be hard to be vigilant. You feel like you're moving underwater and you find yourself in places you don't remember moving to and you find yourself doing things, you don't remember wanting to do.

Sometimes asking other people to be vigilant is what saves you even if it means asking your partner to stay up all night and listen to/watch you sleep because it's easier for you to keep breathing if she's making sure that you really are.

I also sometimes use the code 'sometimes my arms bend back'. It pretty much perfectly describes the physical manifestation of my depression so if I post that, bring tea and a blanket and prepare to lay in bed with me and stroke my hair for many hours. You can all come.


I am so thankful that she had a boss that accepted her and supported her through the dark times, I am so thankful she now has a wife that loves her for ALL of who she is. I am so thankful for those friends that have stood by her and so angry at those who left her by the wayside because it was too hard. 


Thank you for reading and please feel to share if you think this will help someone you know and love.

Please, please, please if you read this and it speaks to you, if you are feeling like death is the only answer ... reach out and hold onto someone's hand and hold on tight.  Build your network of friends, family and professionals that can help. Be open and honest.

And please, if you don't suffer depression, do not judge those that do, do not think they can magically make themselves right with the world, this is a mental illness it is not a choice they make.

And as the quote at the top of the post implies, be kind to one another for we never know the journey another person is on.



Lifeline for Australia call 13 11 14 

For information about depression go to www.blackdoginsitutute.org.au

6 comments:

  1. Oh yes.
    Been there, travelled (and travelling) that road. As has my partner,. And asking for help is sometimes almost too big an ask.
    Love your daughter's strength and determination.
    “Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don't give up.” Anne Lamott

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    Replies
    1. It seems there is a larger percentage of people who travel this road EC. What I love is that you take the knowledge of the road travelled and share it with others on similar journeys through your work with LifeLine. You are an inspiration to me each and every day xxx I love the quote you have shared.

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  2. Depression is a liar that tells you "you don't matter" and "you are all alone" and "everyone would be better off and much happier without you".

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    Replies
    1. Yes Delores, just some of the lies that it tells and in our lowest moments, we take them to heart. xxxx

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  3. My dear daughter I admire you so much for all you have posted today. Information that is so important that everyone, everywhere, should be aware of it.
    I, of course, know about my son-in-law and my #3 granddaughter and I always feel so for them and those closely associated with them as it is a hard road to hoe and one where vigilance is so important.
    During my life I too have suffered from depression but mine is not the clinical kind for which I am eternally grateful. Mine is the one where you suddenly burst into tears for no reason but when the moment has gone you are OK again and wonder just caused it for which there is no answer. There are times when you suddenly feel overwhelmed by a weird type of emotion but that too only lasts for perhaps a few minutes. My hubby has that happen as well. We both know that we are safe from doing anything drastic and, once again, how thankful we both are.
    I think we were all shocked to hear that Robin Williams had taken his own life but for some strange reason comedians tend to suffer severe depression. At least half a dozen names readily come to mind, some of whom have taken the same way out as Robin Williams. Many seemed extroverts and perhaps this was their way of trying to overcome that black dog that haunted or haunts their lives. To those that don't experience that type of depression it is almost impossible to understand how they feel but the least we can do is try to be tolerant of them and not pass judgement in any way. As you say it is a mental state, one of many different types of mental illness that people have to live with every day.

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  4. Thanks Mum, Robin Williams death has affected me quite deeply, that and the judgemental comments that are happening in parts of the internet. No one has the right to judge another persons choices or expect that someones wife or children may have been able to prevent a suicide. There are days when I think that we have lost the human in humanity. xxx

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