Just Karin's Place

What is it about discussing depression that has people clamming up? Why are people afraid to admit that they have depression … or get panic attacks? Why is there this awful stigma still attached to depression? Is it because people generally don’t want to be around people who are depressed? Afraid depressed people will bring them down? I’ve seen that a lot… people only want to be around happy people, not people who are depressed.

The thing is, depressed people are happy people. They’re trying really hard to just slot into normal life and be treated as anyone else. But they’re depressed, life is that much harder for them to deal with. Depressed people are on medication for a reason… so that they can cope with the day to day dealings of life. The mere act of getting out of bed in the morning for a depressed person can be so difficult and traumatic when not on medication. And even when on medication, some days are incredibly hard to get through.

I want to talk about depression because I have depression. I’ve had depression for many years, since my early twenties. I’ve been on and off medication, in the hope that one day I’ll be off anti-depressants for good! But this past year has seen me on new anti-depressants and a higher dosage of it too. This has made me feel as though I’m taking steps back instead of forward and of course this doesn’t help with the depression. It’s an annoying catch 22 situation.

Some days I wake up and I lie in bed, just not wanting to be awake. Hating this horrible mentally crippling condition that is depression. It makes it hard to get up and go earn a living the proper way. Your depression spills over onto all relationships around you. The most simple task is so hard to do.

I know I have a lot to live for. Two most amazing little boys actually. Matthew and Joshua are THE MOST AMAZING little guys I’ve been blessed with. It’s an honour to be able to say I’m their mom. In fact Joshua just came through here now, while I’m typing this, to tell me he loves me. Isn’t that amazing?

Now… please don’t tell me that this alone should provide me with enough serotonin to cure my depression… because sadly it doesn’t. It does help, don’t get me wrong. My two little boys are my saving grace in more ways than one. But I want more for them. I want to be the parent they deserve. I want to be happy all the time and give them quality time. I don’t want to lie in bed crying or be miserable. I want to be a good example to them. I feel as though my depression is impacting negatively on their lives.

I’m not as productive at work as I should be. I could be so much more. I could do so much more at home. In my social life … I could be so much more than what I am when I’m depressed. In fact when I’m depressed I don’t actually have a social life. Knowing this makes me sad… which leads to more depression and it’s just a sick cycle going around and around. A stupid crappy cheap circus ride that I can’t get off. It just keeps spinning me around with the same old shit all the time.

I want off! I want off my anti-depressants. I want to lead a normal happy life. Okay well this is not going to happen. I need my anti-depressants. I need them to lead a normal happy life. When I’m on them and they’re good. I’m so happy with me. I like myself and can see a future for myself and the boys. On the bad days, I feel awful, lowest of the low. Thankfully the bad days aren’t as often as the good days.

See, depressed people don’t want to be seen as negative, sad, emotionally draining people. They HATE that they’re seen that way and hate it even more that they actually have days when they feel that way. It’s not a choice. It’s a chemical imbalance in the body. Life is not easy. And having to live with a condition like this makes it that much more difficult.

So, when you meet someone and they suffer from depression. Just bare in mind that they’re desperately hoping and wishing every day that their depression would vanish… and also hoping that you won’t see them in a negative light.