I feel courageous

[gmc]

Hello everyone!

I've done a courageous thing these days: I wrote on my blog about being depressive and how would I expect people to change attitude on me by saying this outloud and that I am not afraid of anything anymore to say it. And I feel fine. I am aware of the social riscs of being stigmatised by people and treat me like a child because of my depression, it already happens, but I still want to continue the social struggle with the attitude others have on depression and other mental illnesses.

I will continue writing on my blog about this condition, about treatments, about my own experience with depression and I take it as part of my recovery.

These days were also very hard, there were "those days" of struggle, even if I continue my treatment and my therapy, it does happen not to feel well, like I just don't want to get out of bed, I just want to stay and just breath and tv zapping.

I would like to think I made a step forward and by trying to talk about this I will feel better and help other people too, so that they understand more about mental health and change attitude.

🙂

[white knight]

Hi GMC,

Nice to hear from you again.

I'm happy for you.  For me exposing my issues because they are on my mind so much hasnt worked for me. Then again my so called "friends" on Facebook before I closed my account, looked down on me. 

Interesting that of the 60 FB friends all of which were provided my email address and phone number only 4 replied saying they wanted to keep in touch.  Says it all really.

[Neil_1]

Hi Gabriela

What a great thing you’ve done and are doing – and I say “Good on you” for doing this and taking up the challenge.

It’s really an important phase for you and please remember to stay writing to us also to keep us up to date with how things are going?  I must zip over to where you post on the other forum site of Young Ones, so I can get up to speed with how you’ve been doing.

I would also like to thank you so much for your kind and warm responses to me over the last month.

Keep working hard Gabriela – yes, the struggle to get out of bed;  keep being strong;  every little step forward is a positive advancement.  🙂

Kind regards

Neil

[geoff]

dear Gabriela, what you are going to do is great, because what can happen is that people label their own problems with the word depression, but under this description there is so much that we don't know about, so what we try and do is to help them to overcome this massive illness rather specifically targeting an actual problem, that's OK it can be done and has been done many times over, but there maybe some doubt or trust issues, but you have to remember that none of us ever doubt what you or anyone else says.

This is not directed at you Gabriela, it's just an old man thinking aloud.

We all go through a very deep and dark tunnel and end up at the pit of the black dog who has a voracity of hunger, and will consume what ever is in sight, you, me, and I'll have to say Neil and Tony because they too have replied to you, and everyone who is on the site.

It's great that you have started a new post, because one with so many replies, then comments get lost in the cross-fire, if you know what I mean. L Geoff. x

[Pounce]

Hi gmc, you are courageous! It took me so long to seek help and treatment and admit to others that I needed help. Didn't do so until I was forced to, actually, through having breakdowns at work. Letting others know is such a relief, though. And I've been amazed at how many people are really kind and understanding. Should have given people more credit! Wouldn't have suffered for so long. Anyway, good on you, and I hope you find people to be more understanding than you expected.

[gmc]

Dear Neil, Geoff and Pounce,

You all give me hope :). I know it's hard, this journey, but I do feel good about being opened. You know, I was very pleased to find out that when I confess to people, many of them are very happy to know that there is someone that can actually talk freely about this problem, which affects so many people. There is this feeling I got from someone that I talked about these days, who told me that "I am so glad you talked to me about this, I've been through this too and I perfectly know your feelings. And thank you for talking about this and being opened".

I feel very weel by doing it and part of this feeling I owe it to you guys.

[Neil_1]

Dear Gabriela

That’s a huge thing – a feeling of hope.  Hope can come in many forms and varieties and I think that so many of us have experienced it in the past.

The other big positive you’ve mentioned is the gesture of ‘opening up’ and being able to talk freely about this problem.  Either with one of your counsellors, perhaps a very close friend (if available) and not to mention all the good folk on this website.  I would say without doubt that this is where you can come to and unload, vent or just to share some thoughts and you know that you’ll receive responses back from like-minded people.

Part of your feeling well is owed to “us”, as you mention – BUT Gabriela, don’t EVER forget that YOU are the one who is to be congratulated the most.  Sure, we’ll answer you when you write (and this goes to anyone) but if you didn’t open up – if you didn’t write – then how could we know what to do?   It is YOU who has taken the significant step forward and for that, I cannot praise you enough.

And this is something that perhaps each of us needs to continue to do.

As always Gabriela, absolutely awesome hearing from you and look forward to more responses back from you.   Also great to see you chipping in to other posters and supplying some really good responses and advice to them.  🙂

Neil