This is the reality of depression, which should really be renamed “frozen in agony”. These scenarios remind me of my own, and show how much well meaning “advice” needs to improve and how badly society still treats people who are suffering from mental illness. We are at a point now where it’s society that needs to change, the suffering person has done more than enough of the “wellness” spadework to compensate for the unkindness that they face every day.
I’m quite well read now in anything related to mental illness. I have a degree in psychology and I have built up more reading on top of that. I’ve experienced two major episodes of psychosis and many years of moderate to severe depression and I have masked all of it and forced myself to carry on as though I was a normal person. Why? Because what realistic choice do I have in this unkind world? I suspect that there are millions of people in agony worldwide doing the same. Does it need to be so hard? No! Not if emotional intelligence was taught in school and stigma tackled. I’m sure drugs will improve. But I’m just going to stick my neck out and say the unthinkable. The president does it, so why can’t I? I think the whole of DSM 5 should go in the bin and be replaced with one word. Trauma (CNS). It’s not going to happen, but I feel better now I have said it.
This is true for you--and many others! However, for some, the mental illness come first, and the trauma comes later, as a consequence of the illness. It's not always pathogenic, but the suffering is traumatizing.
This is true for you--and many others! However, for some, the mental illness come first, and the trauma comes later, as a consequence of the illness. It's not always pathogenic, but the suffering is traumatizing.
My problem is that I don’t look like someone who should be taken seriously. My second episode of psychosis was caused by a head injury after all. I don’t have an occupational identity. I’m someone who has survived these illnesses but I haven’t enjoyed my life or profited economically from what I have learned. I’ve never been able to express myself about everything I have learned about mental illness before. This platform is the first place for me. Sufferers need to be heard properly. That’s why I love what Jon has written ❤️🩹🫂👍❤️
I really appreciate you saying that, and I too have never been able to really use the knowledge of what I have learned from battling depression all these years. I’ve read a lot about it too. I too don’t have an occupation at the moment; I haven’t gotten up to it yet in my essay but the cluster of depressions from 2018-2023 have left a big hole in my resume and most jobs just reject me without giving me a chance. It’s a tough spot to be in, and I’m sure we’re not the only ones. Anyway I’m trying to finish up the essay, this 2nd half has me trying my best to summarize 10+ years but I think I still have more to say. Thanks again for reading it and liking it so far.
For sure. There is a perception that people suffering with depression are weak or fragile and the truth is just the complete opposite. Suffering through depression takes an unbelievable amount of enduring an all encompassing misery and an incredible burden of suffering for months at a time without respite. For those of us who have suffered multiple episodes, the pain and suffering is multiplied and it never gets easier just to survive it.
There are so many amazing blogs on here talking about what it really feels like to be ill. One good one is Leon McFadden. He has PTSD but some of his posts cover depression really well if you look back through them
This is the reality of depression, which should really be renamed “frozen in agony”. These scenarios remind me of my own, and show how much well meaning “advice” needs to improve and how badly society still treats people who are suffering from mental illness. We are at a point now where it’s society that needs to change, the suffering person has done more than enough of the “wellness” spadework to compensate for the unkindness that they face every day.
Jon really hit the nail
On the head. Thanks for reading!
I’m quite well read now in anything related to mental illness. I have a degree in psychology and I have built up more reading on top of that. I’ve experienced two major episodes of psychosis and many years of moderate to severe depression and I have masked all of it and forced myself to carry on as though I was a normal person. Why? Because what realistic choice do I have in this unkind world? I suspect that there are millions of people in agony worldwide doing the same. Does it need to be so hard? No! Not if emotional intelligence was taught in school and stigma tackled. I’m sure drugs will improve. But I’m just going to stick my neck out and say the unthinkable. The president does it, so why can’t I? I think the whole of DSM 5 should go in the bin and be replaced with one word. Trauma (CNS). It’s not going to happen, but I feel better now I have said it.
This is true for you--and many others! However, for some, the mental illness come first, and the trauma comes later, as a consequence of the illness. It's not always pathogenic, but the suffering is traumatizing.
This is true for you--and many others! However, for some, the mental illness come first, and the trauma comes later, as a consequence of the illness. It's not always pathogenic, but the suffering is traumatizing.
I meant trauma in its widest medical sense as this encapsulates all types of damage from any source or process
My problem is that I don’t look like someone who should be taken seriously. My second episode of psychosis was caused by a head injury after all. I don’t have an occupational identity. I’m someone who has survived these illnesses but I haven’t enjoyed my life or profited economically from what I have learned. I’ve never been able to express myself about everything I have learned about mental illness before. This platform is the first place for me. Sufferers need to be heard properly. That’s why I love what Jon has written ❤️🩹🫂👍❤️
I really appreciate you saying that, and I too have never been able to really use the knowledge of what I have learned from battling depression all these years. I’ve read a lot about it too. I too don’t have an occupation at the moment; I haven’t gotten up to it yet in my essay but the cluster of depressions from 2018-2023 have left a big hole in my resume and most jobs just reject me without giving me a chance. It’s a tough spot to be in, and I’m sure we’re not the only ones. Anyway I’m trying to finish up the essay, this 2nd half has me trying my best to summarize 10+ years but I think I still have more to say. Thanks again for reading it and liking it so far.
For sure. There is a perception that people suffering with depression are weak or fragile and the truth is just the complete opposite. Suffering through depression takes an unbelievable amount of enduring an all encompassing misery and an incredible burden of suffering for months at a time without respite. For those of us who have suffered multiple episodes, the pain and suffering is multiplied and it never gets easier just to survive it.
There are so many amazing blogs on here talking about what it really feels like to be ill. One good one is Leon McFadden. He has PTSD but some of his posts cover depression really well if you look back through them