Donna's Story: Depression is a Liar Part 1
Content Warning: This blog discusses topics which some readers may find triggering.
In this new blog series, we will share the personal stories of those who have struggled with their mental health. We hope to show the universality of mental health problems and empower others to ask for help. In this three part blog, Donna shares her experiences with depression.
We all have Mental Health, as well as Physical Health. All 7.6 Billion of us that live on Planet Earth. And sometimes, we fall foul to illness.
Depression is an illness that not only brings debilitating symptoms, it can also suck away our joy and brings a constant chatter in our heads that we aren’t worthy and that it’s all our fault.
I’ve chosen to write this blog in the hope that it can help people who are currently ill with depression or anxiety. And I also hope it can be useful information/education for people that are supporting a loved one who is currently poorly with their mental health.
I’d like to share this information from NHS England:
“Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days. Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression is not a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together". The good news is that with the right treatment and support, people with depression can make a full recovery.”
I have been ill with depression, and I have recovered from this illness back to good health.
Now that I am well, I can say with confidence, that Depression is a Liar.
And the symptoms of depressive illness tell multiple lies. These are the lies that depression told me:
- It told me I was tired, but then wouldn’t let me rest.
- It told me I had no appetite to eat, so I was ‘force feeding’ myself to eat.
- It gave me physical pain in my legs and back.
- It played games with my bladder.
- It took my concentration.
- It took away my enjoyment of my favourite things.
- It made me feel exhausted with every task.
- It put continuous negative thoughts into my head, on a constant loop.
- It told me to believe these thoughts in my head, that were involuntary and very unkind.
- It made me feel alone, even in the company of family and good friends.
- It made me feel guilty, about everything!
- It made me feel sad and empty.
- It stole my personality.
- It stole my joy.
Depression makes all tasks difficult. Taking a shower takes Herculean strength. Everyday chores such as washing and ironing are incomprehensible. It took away the things that I used to enjoy. It took away my connection to life.
Depression is a thief as well as a liar.
Whilst in depression, you are affected cognitively, physically and emotionally.
Depression is vile, cruel, and exhausting.
But it is an illness, and it is highly treatable.
And just like physical illness, we need time to recover. It is not the real you, and you haven’t changed. Depression is lying to you. Recovery is possible… and your return to full health is what lies ahead at the end of this journey.
The second part of Donna's Story: Depression is a Liar will be available on the 22nd April.
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