Writing — Mental Health
Dealing With Depression, Anxiety, and Thoughts of Suicide in the Springtime
Plus, 20 things I’m amazingly thankful for right now
Sorry in advance for this heavy topic, but it must be done for those of us who may be hurting right now.
Spring is a time for budding flowers, new growth, happiness, and joy, but just because it’s supposed to be this way doesn’t mean it actually will be. Whatever brings a person down in life doesn’t necessarily take a break just because of the changing season. No one wants to feel this way, yet there’s no shame in it either.
The world is filled with beauty and love, but it’s also filled with ugliness and hate. I feel like people who get down about it on occasion are much more normal than “normal” people. How could it not get a person down sometimes?
For the last week or so I’ve been in a dire slump, brooding on a lot of stuff and whatnot, and not wanting to write too much either. Yesterday I started feeling better though and today feel almost back to normal functioning. That’s just how my wheels turn at times, unfortunately. Ups and downs are really just a part of life, my life anyway.
On the Topic of Suicidal Thoughts
Note: What follows is a short discussion on suicide. Please skip this part if you feel you will be triggered.
The number of young, successful people of late who have either committed suicide or declared themselves to be suffering from debilitating mental health problems is just astounding. A while back I wrote about my shock at the death of Cheslie Kryst: “Looks Can be so Deceiving Can’t They” and then just a couple of weeks ago I was equally shocked at the death of soccer player Katie Meyers, a girl who simply seemed to have it all.
Not so funny is that whenever I’ve written about suicide in the past, there always seems to be someone who will say something like the following:
A lot of people commit suicide every day. As if to say, what’s so special about this person.
I don’t understand such a callous attitude. Yes, people commit suicide every day, but there are also people who each of us may, in particular, identify with or relate, which tends to make it extra shocking.
Just because someone looks like they have it all doesn’t mean they aren’t still hurting. There’s this misconception that mental health is not a problem for people who are outwardly successful, which is just bunk. It can happen to anyone at any time, as life has so often demonstrated to us.
“Just look how much you’ve been blessed with,” someone might scoff. “Look on the bright side. There are starving children all across the globe you know. You just need to change your thoughts and stop dwelling in misery.”
I’ve thought about suicide before, lots of times actually, but there’s always something that stops me, chiefly my family and my belief in the sheer preciousness of life. I don’t want to throw away what was given to me like that. I want to stay strong and fight through it to see another, better day.
What really breaks my heart is when people aren’t able to talk themselves out of it. How much utter pain they must have been in to do what they did! I can’t even fathom it. None of us can who haven’t been there — I don’t think any of us are in a position to judge them harshly, ever.
20 Things I’m AMAZINGLY Thankful for Right Now
Since Thank You Notes is a place for gratitude, I always feel compelled to make a list of the things I’m most thankful for. It’s great for mental health and along with mindfulness, eating healthy, writing, and other such endeavors has the power to help me feel better
- Friends and family — This includes my wonderful online community of frie-mily.
- My kitchen — Roasting meat on a stick over an open fire is only fun if you’re camping.
- Great food — I have to admit, my husband and I eat pretty well. It’s one thing we try not to skimp on too much.
- Beautiful flowers — Wild or growing in someone’s garden, they are always a pleasure to behold.
- Water — Whether it be drinking it or purifying ourselves with it, we simply can’t live without it!
- Music — Most especially lately I’m grateful to all the people on YouTube who post videos of beautiful scenery along with healing mood music. These vids work wonders for me!
- Books — I’ve also come to thoroughly love audiobooks.
- Technology — As a child born in the mid-70s, I still remember our primitive, old-style typewriter. It was so heavy and bulky you could easily kill a person with it. Could've have used it as a bench press also. No correction tape or white-out either yet. When I think about my appreciation of technology, I always think of that old typewriter.
- Laptop computers—So glad to have mine!
- Smartphones — Equally glad to have it!
- Electricity — Especially to charge my phone and laptop!
- Indoor plumbing —Would you rather use an outhouse or a chamber pot? I don’t think so! Think about this the next time you flush a toilet.
- Cars, trains, airplanes, etc.— The Flintstones is only fun on TV.
- Modern food laws—Something that doesn’t get the praise it deserves anymore. The Jungle anyone?
- Modern medicine — Far from perfect? Yes, but I also don’t want to go back to the days before antibiotics or when the best painkiller you could find on the market was whiskey!
- Modern clothing—Big old dresses, petticoats, bonnets— haven’t even bought pantyhose or high heels in years. Wearing pants is awesome and wearing shorts is even better!
- Air-conditioning! — Here in the tropics, it’s a true godsend.
- Medium —Always thankful for platforms like Medium, where we are all free to express ourselves. It ain’t perfect, but I still love it anyway.
- Always grateful to Trista Signe Ainsworth for creating this excellent publication and sharing her love and hope with all of us! She’s truly an inspiration.
- All of the other inspiring writers and editors here on Medium who share not only their stories but help and encourage all of us to share ours, like Yana Bostongirl, Katie Michaelson, Ellie Jacobson, Hollie Petit, Ph.D., pockett dessert, B.R. Shenoy and so many others. Thank you so much for being here!
What are you thankful for today?
If you’re a person who is suffering from depression and/or anxiety, don’t be afraid to tell your story and share it. It doesn’t have to be perfect, just honest and engaging.
Seek out those things that will help you feel better, stronger, and healthier. You, and me, have the power to do it!