I have been struggling with depression for more than 15 years. At my lowest point I was non-functioning for close to three years. I am fully aware that each of us has our own unique symptoms and coping devices.
I live the struggle daily of finding the energy and motivation to get up and go to work. And these are my good days, the bad days (may they be forever in my past because I don't know if I have the strength in me to climb back up from that dark abyss) I was unable to eat, shower or do any of the "normal" everyday things that people take for granted.
As I said, from my experience there's no way that I would have been able to do the things she's caught on camera. Perhaps it's my work ethic, upbringing, or just my own personal belief system but if I'm healthy enough for a vacation, I'm healthy enough to haul my butt to work.
This is truly a debilitating disease, and I fully understand that there are times when work is impossible; when even wishing you were well enough to work isn't even possible. And you are right, I cannot look beyond my own experience I only know of two types of existance at this point in my life, functioning and non-functioning. The depression is always there, every single second of every single day. If there is a transition phase, I'm not fortunate enough to have it.
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I've been married for 24 years and have four wonderful children.
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