Going crazy…be back soon. That’s my favorite joke I tell myself every day lately. If I could find a bumper sticker that said that, I’d buy it. I’m sure there’s one out there, I just haven’t looked.
I know, it’s politically incorrect to make fun of or joke about, well, just about everything nowadays. But I’m simply laughing at myself when I say that.
The way I see it, I can laugh or I can cry. I choose to laugh. You see, I’ve battled depression off and on throughout my adult life. At times the battle nearly did me in. Luckily, blessedly, I’ve had people on my side, even if I haven’t always recognized it or allowed them to help.
I’ve also had family members, close and distant with their own mental health demons, and all the daily battles and years long wars that entails. Some lost that war, and what a horrific loss.
My best advice from the front lines? Don’t be silent about it. Don’t be ashamed by it. Talk to someone about it.
A close friend, a clergy member, a family member, a health care professional, a counselor anyone. There are help lines you can call, there are more people out there who have been exactly where you are.
And if you’ve been there, don’t be silent about it either. It’s not something we should be hiding. Our experience could be the saving grace or the hand that deflects the last straw.
Imagine realizing the person you’ve looked up to as a role model, the with it, always together, mellow person lets you know they’ve battled one of those mental health demons. Wouldn’t you want to know how they did it? Would you feel safe talking to them about your own worries, or the concerns you have about a spouse, a child, a parent? Imagine then, being the person who could help, and then open up and be that person.
Back in the Paleozoic era, when depression grabbed ahold of me and pulled me into a dark and bottomless pit, there was one medication available to treat it. Now, the list is longer than my arm.
You say you don’t want to go the medication route? Fine, there is still help and caring people with information you could use to win this war.
Today is World Mental Health Day.
Reach out for help. Or reach out to offer help. Either way, don’t be silent about it. Please.
Click here, or here, or here, or here, or here to learn more, to get help, to start opening up, to begin to change the world.
And then, enjoy these lovely jokes about being crazy. Because we all need to laugh.
The aspiring psychiatrists were attending their first class on emotional extremes. “Just to establish some parameters,” said the professor to the student from Arkansas, “What is the opposite of joy?”
“Sadness,” said the student.
And the opposite of depression?” he asked of the young lady from Oklahoma.
“Elation,” said she.
“And you sir,” he said to the young man from Texas, “how about the opposite of woe?”
The Texan replied, “Sir, I believe that would be giddy-up.”
Q: How does a crazy person travel through the woods?
A: They take the psycho path.
And these t-shirts are pretty funny, too!
Seriously, laughter might help, but it’s not a cure, not usually.
Ask for help. Offer help. Open up. You’ll be glad you did.
Kami's Beautiful Morning 
I too was very depressed at one time in my life and you are correct: One doesn’t overcome all by ourself. But I do not need professionals. I found a relationship to God through Jesus’ example and have never had any issues again. True, this world gets more horrid by the minute and with all the set backs in society one can easily get depressed. But now I have the awesome hope that God fixes all through prayer. I also wrote blogs about depression and bipolar, since it doesn’t seem to me the medical profession can help us overcome permanently without the damage medication can cause.
I am very happy you have a grip on it and I will pray the Lord will set you permanently free. One other concern I have is for all the people, who have phobias of various kinds.This life sure is not easy, but once you connected again to our creator, He will help us through. Thank you for sharing, so the world may know that there are REAL hardships, not just the economy and all their political baloney. Be blessed!
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Having God as part of the equation certainly helps. I’m afraid for some people that is the only solution they try, out of shame, or fear, or culture. I’m so glad that solution has worked for you. When others need help from other sources as well, I would encourage that most whole-heartedly.
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Your post reminds me of the teenager on Upworthy. I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it yet! http://www.upworthy.com/this-kid-thinks-we-could-save-so-many-lives-if-only-it-was-okay-to-say-4-words
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I’ll have to check that one out. Thanks for the heads up!
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Kami,
Thank you for this. I have never been one to avoid sharing that I suffer from bi-polar disorder, but I have never thought that actively sharing this information may be helpful to someone. It’s funny I saw your post today, because I just read a story online about Brandon Marshall. He is currently the leading receiver for the Chicago Bears, he is also a diagnosed with border ling personality disorder. For the Bears game on Thursday night, instead of wearing black and pink shoes like his teammates (because October is Breast Cancer awareness month in the NFL) he chose to wear black and lime green in honor of Mental Health week. He did this knowing he would be fined by the NFL. (they have very strict uniform codes) He even took it a step farther and promised to match the fine with a donation to a mental health charity. I guess I share this story to prove that, one, ANYONE can suffer from Mental Illness, and two, with help and hard work you can do anything.
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Thanks for sharing that, Charlie. I think we underestimate how much our experiences can benefit others. This is one area that I know opening up about could make a huge difference regardless of which side of the struggle you’re on.
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I agree, the more we can talk, we help ourselves and others. This is a great link for Middle Aged Mormon Man to share. I feel like God let me know that this is my cross to bear and while He won’t take it away, He will make my burden light. I have been blessed to always be able to recognize that it is my disease talking, not reality. I know light exists and will be there again at the end of an episode.
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Sounds like you have a good perspective and attitude about your struggle. It isn’t always easy to recognize or believe that there’s hope or light when you’re in the middle of it all. Best wishes to you for improvement and good health.
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What sage and caring words, Kami. Thank you for sharing this important post. I plan to visit each and every link. Love the comics. Yes, there’s pain, but humor can be such a lovely balm.
Be well!
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Thanks, Shelley! Humor definitely helps!
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