To The Ones Who Love Me In Spite Of My Depression, Thank You

I consider myself to be brave. Getting out of bed each morning may not seem brave to most, but anyone who has battled through the self eclipsed war of depression knows otherwise. When the voices and forces within you want nothing more than to bring you down, you need to rise above. And that, is the bravest thing anyone could ever do.

While others saw me as “Crazy”, you saw I was hurting. Depression can you turn you into someone you aren’t. It will make your face unrecognizable in the mirror, your voice unrecognizable to your ears. When you’re hurting, you do and say things you don’t mean. You turn into an angry, ugly person. Someone you truly are not. To those who could not handle it, I’m sorry. I truly am sorry.

To those who stayed, thank you. I love you.

While others saw me as “Lazy”, you saw that I was trying. When you get into a really bad state, sleeping is rare. You lay awake through the night, thinking, weeping and panicking. Essentially, wishing you were dead. Waking up in the morning and carrying on like a “normal human” is not the easiest thing in the world to do, when just 12 hours ago you were praying to fall asleep and not wake up. Some would say I was unmotivated, boring or mean. They weren’t wrong, but if only they knew.

Thank you for seeing through the ugliness and recognizing my potential.

While others saw me as “Dramatic”, you saw that I was crying for help. When you’re depressed, it is difficult to reach out. You fear what others will think, and how they will treat you. “Get over it”, “You’re so dramatic”, these are phrases I’ve heard more than enough. To tell a depressed person that they are being dramatic is potentially one of the most hurtful things one could do. The thoughts that go on in our minds are scary, terrifying in fact. It takes courage to face them yourself, let alone talk to someone else about them. So, to those who told me to “Get over it”, and to “Stop being dramatic”, thank you for showing me I did not need you in my life.

To those who stood by me, and listened to my thoughts, no matter how irrational or imaginative they may be, thank you. I appreciate you more than you know.

Although I am nowhere near “cured”, I am starting to see a light. A light I once thought I would never find. My mental illness is my reality. I would never choose this life for myself, or anyone, but I am slowly starting to accept the cards I was dealt. Do I still have sad days? Yes. Do I still have days where I find it impossible to get out of bed, eat, or even shower?

Absolutely.

But, I am learning to cope with my reality, and I am slowly learning to live with this monster called Depression. I’ve realized that I haven’t been the person I truly am, or the person I am meant to be. I’ve done, and said, some terrible things. I’ve made mistakes, and I’ve been an ugly person. To those I have hurt while I was hurting, I’m sorry. I hope you can understand. But to those who have stuck by my side, through thick and thin, you mean more to me than you’ll ever know.

Without your guidance, support and concern, I may not be here today. Without your determination and love, my mental illness would have won the war.

This letter is for the friends and family who wipe away my tears, listen to my irrational thoughts and fears, and love me unconditionally when I am far from lovable.

I know it’s not easy, but thank you for always thinking I am worth it.