Understand Depression
By gemini52981
@gemini52981 (158)
Canada
February 14, 2007 11:37pm CST
I have suffered from Major Depression since I was 9 years old. I am now 25 and on lots of medication for my illness. I find the only people who understand my depression are others who have gone through the same thing, or who are also on anti depressents. However it is hard to show a boyfriend, or family member, friend or co worker exactly what it is like to have depression, and to live with it everyday of your life.
Recently I found this great picture book called "My Depression" by Elizabeth Swados. It is an amazing book. All the pictures are pencil drawings/doodles of the stages of depression. How she goes from feeling fine, to rock bottom with in hours...all the stages of depression, and eeing the "light" at the end of an episode after weeks or months of darkness. I actually found parts of it funny cause I could relate to it so well. I bought three copies. I gave one to my therapist, one I kept for myself, and I gave the other to my mother who suffers from bipolar disorder. Everyone thought it was fabulous. My mom even made my dad and brother read it, and they both thought it was a fantastic book, and really opened their eyes to what we are really going through.
anyone else read this book? thoughts/comments? any other books that really get across the message to people who have no clue?
3 people like this
2 responses
@lonewolfnan (4366)
• Canada
15 Feb 07
Depression is suffered by more people then stats show.Sometimes it seems like no one knows what we are going thru or the struggle to get thru another day,hour or minute without breaking down.
I was in a support group for about 7 years and found it a healthy place to share my thoughts without feeling people were judging me.
As you probably know,it is important to have a safety network to help support you during those "down" times.
@payingforschool (678)
• Canada
21 Feb 07
I read a book called 'Darkness Visible' which was about a successful Author and how he descended into depression. It was hard to read, since I relate so well to it, but I also think it was a good picture of the disorder. I often think that my depression is just that - a clinging visible darkness, like a haze glued to everythig in my life.
