It isn’t a malady – it’s a normal human emotion. Yes – I am confident that a hundred per cent of us have experienced sadness – and sadness can be an experience. So – just in case you’re somebody that wants to cast blame and aspersions upon those who “choose” to have a mood disorder, here’s a little piece of info for you. How the fuck is that helpful?! Excuse my language… I’ve yet to hear of an epileptic being told to stop having a seizure – to just display a little more control Yet even in the 21st Century, there are clinically depressed people being told to cheer up and put on a happy face. But if I’m depressed or anxious, I’m experiencing something that apparently, I can control? The only people who would ever think that, have never experienced it. Even the terminology is dodgy, right? If I have a physical malady I’m sick – I don’t “experience” a cold, glandular fever or cancer, I “have” a cold – or glandular fever, or cancer. Or do we just have a belief there is associated stigma? I am secretly hopeful the shame is abating and the vast majority of us can now offer someone experiencing depression the same compassion and empathy they would for someone “experiencing” diabetes. So why – oh why, oh why – is there still stigma associated with mental health? Do you know another human? Then statistically speaking, one of you is it. I will offer one (vague) statistic here though – almost half the population will have a mental health issue (depression, anxiety, substance abuse – just to name a few) at some point in their lives. I could quote you statistics, and tell you about the significant impact of depression on individuals, families, workplaces and the economy – but why bother? There are websites full of this information – specific to the country you reside in – and as fast as I put the stats here, they will change. I know I’m sick to death of hearing about it – not because I lack compassion for those with depression, but because I AM one of those people with depression. Are you sick to death of hearing about depression? How sad we all are now? It’s an epidemic apparently…
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