A ‘wink’ had come in from a popular dating website. For the uninitiated in online dating, this is an indication of interest from someone. I clicked on the profile and within seconds of reading, found myself perturbed. Dating websites can upset people for all sorts of reasons, but this was the first
Tag: stigma
The sound of silence on mental health
5 misconceptions about invisible disabilities
Talking mental health
Every year 1 in 4 people are affected by mental health illnesses, but are afraid to talk about them for fear of repercussions. Mind and Rethink Mental Illness want to change this by encouraging people to spend at least five minutes a day having conversations about mental health. In their Time to Talk Campaign, the
Don’t judge me
If I could choose, I wouldn’t choose pain, no one would, whether it’s the kind of pain you see or you can’t see.
How sharing my story made a difference
Dad asked me how I could go for so long without eating and not feel hungry. I had to explain to him that major depression is such a gripping, enveloping illness, that the hollowness it causes inside you is greater than any hunger or emotion you could possibly feel.
Mistaking sadness for depression
"Mistaking sadness for depression is like confusing a pimple with cancer. People who are sad get over it, the biggest cause of suicide especially among men under 30 is depression; something you can't just shake off; the reason being is because it's too painful to be in a body that
Supporting suicidal loved ones
Something troubles me. I keep hearing of people who commit suicide but their loved ones don’t know why. Everyone conveys condolences. It must be hard on the family they say, yes. How will they carry on, pick up the pieces? I empathise. But no one is sure why? Why not? Is it just me or
Benefits to coming out on depression
“Be careful who you tell” some friends say, referring to my openness about living with clinical depression and anxiety, and sometimes fibromyalgia. I don’t give them wrong for the caution. I often think I am too open, and too trusting of this human race. But mostly, I am not sorry for my
The Face of Depression
What does depression look like? I often ask people. The question intrigues me. The answers, even more. Depression is an enigma with many faces. It doesn’t always looks like what we expect it to. And more importantly, people wear it differently. You might already know that I’ve set out to raise money for Depression
