Dear you: an easy way to start talking about your depression

[Solivagant]

I randomly came across this and I just HAVE to share this with you guys!

Some of you might be thinking/might have thought about telling someone near you about your depression through a letter. I think that most of the times we are completely lost as to what we should write. So here's something I found and I think that it is superb! Its so perfect, it describes depression really well and covers many important thing in a humorous way-

Dear You,

I am writing to confide in you that I have been bitten by a dog. Before you rush me off to get a tetanus injection, I should explain that the bite was from the metaphorical black dog. In other words, I suffer from depression.

I appreciate that you might not properly understand what that means. It's a bit like having an orgasm – you’ve heard about it, you know what occurs, you may even have seen it happen to someone, but you can never really know what it feels like without experiencing it for yourself.

Having depression isn't like being depressed about the fact you can't afford those fabulous shoes or that your football team lost. People with depression don't tend to say 'I'm sooooooo depressed.' We don't have the energy to use unnecessary vowels.

We also don't sit at home rocking backwards and forwards. Unless in a chair designed for that purpose of course. We aren't crazy. We aren't weak. We aren't usually depressed about something we don't like in our lives because if we were we'd change it. Similarly we aren't able to just 'think positive' and 'snap out of it.' Believe me we’ve all tried.

Also there's a lot more to depression than feeling lower than a worm's boobs. It's a bit like having a horrendous hangover - the paranoia, the lethargy, the guilt. Being unable to think straight, being unable to sleep and being a bit useless in general. It lasts a hell of a lot longer though and there has been no fun night out beforehand to make it worthwhile.

If I had a broken leg I know you'd make allowances for me and help in any way you could. I realise this situation is more difficult to deal with because there is nothing to see and there’s no plaster cast to write a funny message on, but if you think about it, the same could be said if it was my heart that was broken. You’d still be straight round with a shoulder to lean on, assurances that I’ll get over it and appropriate little white lies that I will never hurt again.

Any chance of doing the same for my broken head? I’ll put the kettle on in case…

Love, Me

The person who wrote this has a blog called "Bitten by the Dog". Here's the link- http://bittenbythedog.com/

I've just discovered this and only read 2-3 posts but I am already loving it!
I hope you guys like it too.

[Rivière]

That reminds me of the 'black dog' which Winston Churchill used to describe his clinical depression. Very informative and encouraging, thank you for sharing!

[Ennui.]

This is amazing, I agree with Sarah here!

[coolkid98]

Thanks for sharing

[SilentBunny]

Wow, this is just perfect. Thanks for sharing this!

[~Divergent~]

I love this! It's such a lighthearted but accurate description of depression, and it kind of takes the edge off of telling someone.

[hocus pocus]

Wow, I really like this. I might actually use this to explain depression to my parents a little more.

This is really clever and lighthearted, thanks for sharing!