And then the most important thing I do is that I go and tell another adult, usually my husband. I specifically say that I am depressed, I don't want anything special from him, (okay, maybe a hug) and I just need him to know that "I know" and that it's not a big deal, it will pass. For me, this openness about it minimalizes the impact.
This is so wise.
Mental illness is just an illness, like recurring malaria or arthritis flares.
It's not personal, and it attacks lots of people.
I feel blessed to have been raised by a schizophrenic father, because I knew from an early age that mental illness is a physical ailment.
Depression comes with low energy, mental confusion and fogginess, aches and pains, sadness and/or fear, and many times nothing "brings it on". It just happens, like the flu or a bad cold.
It's really important for people to know that when depression reaches the point of suicidal ideation (thinking up various ways to die), that's the time to go to the hospital.
Thanks for the topic.
