It seems that recently being diagnosed with a mental illness is something people want. Phrases using the word “depressed” get thrown around left, right and centre without any thought behind them. No real thoughts towards the people who are actually depressed and are struggling to live a proper life.
The truth about depression isn’t glamourous. It sucks. It’s horrible and it tears your life apart. Depression isn’t a girl who dresses in black, listens to sad music and argues with their family every now and again. Depression isn’t a trend that people should desire, it definitely isn’t cool or the ‘in thing’.
Depression is lying in the pitch black at 3am in the morning, struggling to find the good in your life. It’s pushing people away closest to you, feeling that you’ll never been good enough for anyone. It’s wondering how anyone can ever love you when you can’t even love yourself. It’s the feeling that you’ve been awake for 5 years straight and no amount of sleep will ever be able to cure the exhaustion you have. Depression steals your life, your future ambitions, your happiness, friends and your family. It takes over every aspect of your life and eventually steals life all together.
There isn’t anything beautiful or poetic about being depressed. Depression is painful, it tears your
life apart and makes you feel worthless. Depression isn’t just as simple as taking a pill everyday and everything turns out ok - depression stays with you for the whole of your life and although we can have good days, the bad days are still a struggle where you can’t find anything good to look forward to and be happy about.
I’ve been suffering from depression now since autumn last year and right now, I am at my all time worst. I’ve switched tablets from Sertraline to Fluoxetine which I start on Monday. I cry constantly about life being easier if I wasn’t here. I can’t remember the last time I had a good nights sleep. I hardly leave the house unless I really have to. There is absolutely nothing glamourous or desirable about having depression, anxiety or any other mental illness.
Romanticising and glamourising the idea of depression and other mental illnesses makes me feel ill, especially as it’s the twenty-first century; proving there is still a stigma surrounding mental illnesses. Mental illnesses are heartingbreaking. Depression is life shattering. Anxiety is horrid. There is nothing desirable. The next time that you go to say the phrase “I’m so depressed” because you didn’t get the grade you wanted in a test or because the top you wanted for ages is sold out, please think again about what it is to be depressed and choose a different phrase and different wording.
Let’s start seeing mental illnesses for what they are, and not the latest fashion trend. Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year. So let’s try and see mental illness for what it truly is, an illness.
Daisy x
Mental health helplines;
Anxiety UK - 03444775774
Bipolar - www.bipolaruk.org.uk
CALM (men aged 15-35) - www.thecalmzone.net
Mind - 03001233393
No Panic - 08449674848
OCD Action - 08453906232
OCD UK - 08451203778
PAPYRUS (young suicide) - 08000684141
Rethink Mental Illness - 03005000927
Samaritans - 116123
SANE - 03003047000
Young Minds (parents helpline) - 08088025544
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