Wondering

I have been very open with my struggles with depression and OCD. I do it because I want people to better understand what it’s like to try and live with those mental health issues. Too many people don’t know much about those issues while other people are downright rudely judgmental and don’t bother to try and understand. My depression has been used against me and I don’t think that pain will ever go away.

Anyway, I have blogged and tweeted about what I’m living with but I’ve often wondered if it’s truly done any good. Like I said, my depression has been used against me and that has been after I’ve put my struggle into words. I wonder if that person ever took the time to actually read what I wrote, to actually take a moment to try and understand how depression effects a person.

There are stats I can look at to see how many people have read my blog and on average, it’s only about 20 people, about a fifth of the people who follow me on Twitter. I’m a reading teacher, though, and I know not everyone likes to read and I know that people are busy. I’m also not stupid; I know people just don’t care and people may just not like me enough to take the time to read my words.

I have received some feedback from those that do care and I appreciate all those kind words. I know some people may just not know what to say to someone who is struggling. Let me give you some advice – people with mental health issues are humans. Talk to us as humans. It’s pretty simple. Be kind, be nice, but more importantly, be understanding.

It’s every writer’s dream to have people read their words, whether it’s a blog entry or a book or short story. I’d love to have more people take a few minutes to read my blogs so that they gain a better understanding of depression and a better understanding of me. (And, of course, I would be ecstatic if more people read my books.)

Again, I leave you with this – be kind, be nice, be understanding.

Dana