Sufferers Unite

Life is a series of highs and lows and once you fully accept that, you can continue to choose life even when it's hard to get out of bed, because you know it'll get better if you stick around. Mental illness(es) isolate people and some people say they're fine but are actually dying inside. It's important to speak up and get help and not hide it just because you're worried of making others around you uncomfortable. You are allowed to scream about the horrible feelings of hopelessness and no future. You are allowed to say "I'M NOT OKAY". You are allowed to admit to people in your life that your illness is trying to convince you that the only way out is to die, when the reality is, the feelings won't last forever if you reach out for help. Back away from the ledge, no matter how tempting it may be in life's hard moments and situations. There is another path down the mountain behind you, and it's one full of hope, joy, happiness and reasons to live. It's gonna be a lot slower than walking off the ledge, but when you get to the bottom, you'll be happy you didn't take the permanent way out.

I think the hardest part about living with depression for me is that even though I know the medication will send it into remission and let me live again, I also know it is very likely it will come back and torment me more and that every time it will leave me feeling more exhausted than before. I hope I always find the strength to continue on, because my brain is a vast sea where the storms sometimes come and rain on me for what feels like eons. I hope I never forget to open my umbrella and hold on for dear life because I know it will all be okay, in time. Just please, I beg the universe to never let me get to a spot where I feel like allowing myself to die because of depression is okay.