I've been hogging the limelight here a bit lately, I'd like to remedy that. I forget the when I post pieces to our 'over to you' section, those who are with me on facebook hear about it, but for those just following the blog, I'm reasonably sure (correct me if I'm wrong), that you don't get notification when I update that page. So, consider yourselves notified!!
I've had some fantastic writing sent to me the last few months, and if you haven't already seen it I'd strongly urge you to go and take a look. The sense of isolation, loneliness and frustration that goes with depression comes through so clearly in all the writing, but also, and I think more importantly, the strength of each of these authors in finding a way through their difficulties, and the courage they have shown in sharing it so openly, is truly inspiring.
Just to whet your appetite, here is a brief overview of what people have written about:
- The Sinkhole - Anonymous, a stay at home mam of two talks about her two very different experiences of post natal depression, and highlights how easy it can be to dismiss it when it doesn't manifest as we expect. Even when you live with a psychiatrist!
- Depression by another name........? - Anonymous acknowledges her extreme sense of loneliness, despite a supportive family and good friends, and realises how this is something that has been with her since very early in life
- Post natal depression - Anne talks about her experience of PND, which has left her with a lot of questions, and as yet, not many answers on how this may have impacted on her daughter
- My Sister - Lucy struggled for years to understand why her sister was so silent, before eventually realising that you cannot fix someone who has depression
- Smartphones and Skewed Perceptions - Tríona's PTSD had left her with very negative memories of her daughter's traumatic birth and the following days and weeks, but was reminded that there were good times too - her husband had captured the many smiles that followed her daughter's arrival on his phone, allowing her to see that perhaps her memory of that time wasn't accurate
- Depression and Anger - Ciarán MacAoidh worries that the anger and frustration that go hand in hand with his depression will drive his friends and partner away
- R - R talks about the sheer strength of the physical experience of a panic attack, and the difficulty of not being able to talk about it
- Emo - Georgie writes about acknowledging and addressing her eating disorder and self harm
- Ghost Train - Caron compares depression to being on a ghost train - a 'long round ride where you know the dips are coming and they make you sink fast without any control whatsoever'
- Post traumatic stress disorder - not just for veterans: After experiencing a very traumatic birth with her daughter, Tríona describes how the experience affected her months later, when she started experiencing flashbacks
- Post natal depression - Angela writes about post natal depression, and the how the stigma around it makes it such a difficult condition to accept
- The Great Big 'Men Don't Talk' Lie - Ciarán MacAoidh on his frustration at the perception that men don't talk about emotions, and how society may in fact be creating that barrier rather than removing it
So there you have it!! Please, take the time to go over and
have a read. I don't know these people, I don't know their circumstances, their background, or sometimes even their gender. But I do know one thing. They are all incredibly strong, and they have all taken a huge step in coming to terms with the difficulties they face, as well as helping the rest of us to realise that what we're feeling, while so difficult, is by no means unique, and so we're that little bit closer to normalising it. They have also been very supportive of each other, both on the page and over on facebook. Comments of encouragement, compassion and understanding means so much when we bare our souls!! The more of us that talk, the easier it will get. For that, and for them, I am so, so grateful. Please keep writing folks!!
Labels: acceptance, blogging, challenges, child birth, connection, courage, depression, empathy, facebook, honesty, post natal depression, sharing, stigma, support, understanding