I’ll lie in wait. When the door is closed and the lights are off is when I emerge. You are alone. But you have me. I sneak in and you reveal your deepest worries and regrets. You confide in me. I reaffirm and show you reasons why these worries are true. They are fabrications and I love to spin stories, but I have your trust.
I have convinced you that you are alone; I have you convinced you are the root of the problems around you, I have played on your deepest fears and I have even caused you to hurt yourself physically, just to gain relief from my constant onslaught of darkness.
Some have been inspired by listening to others talk openly about me, and some have confronted me head on and sought help themselves. But I’m confident I have you. You don’t know any of this. You don’t even know my true name is depression. I’m comfortable here lying in bed with you. You continue to mindlessly sift through YouTube. All the while I do my work in the background.
It’s starting to dawn on you what I am, but you haven’t named me, probably out of fear. We’re in bed again and you’re in so much pain, you’ve forgotten about the rest of your body. I have you stuck in one of my favorite stories. Your misery is inviting.
Ha! You are having that thought again; I have reduced it to a tiny thought. I’ve done my work on it: “Seek help.” You’ve wanted to go to the toilet for three hours now and you haven’t even made a move… do you really think you can walk all the way to the student counseling services?
Shit, I need help. Anxiety wake up!
It’s only 3 a.m., Depression. He’ll be alone even longer if you convince him to skip lectures and stay in bed. Ah, depression – what have you done? You’re supposed to keep him stuck, not piss him off.
Look kid, you will have to get dressed to go there, otherwise people will look at you weird if you arrive in a tracksuit and a wrinkled hoody. The counselors will probably only laugh at you and tell you you’re wasting their time. Imagine if everyone you know in college finds out! That’s it — stay awake thinking about that. It’s really not worth it.
Nice anxiety, I think you have him.
Man, he’s still thinking about going. That’s all he’s focusing on.
He’s held on to this thought all night. Jesus, he looks exhausted.
So am I.
Me too.
Damn, he’s moving. What do we do?
What can we do? He’s going to the counseling center.
OK, while he’s waiting in reception we will convince him to leave.
They already have his information though…
We will have time to convince him to lie…
Damn, she called him in…
Shit, he’s broken down and told her…
Be strong enough to seek help. Taking on depression as part of a team is easier than fighting on your own. There are people out there who can help.
If you or someone you know needs help, visit our suicide prevention resources page.
If you need support right now, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
My name is Sean Meade I’m 24 and from Ireland. I suffered from depression for quiet a while, well a couple of years. I write to help others understand what I went through and to help others realize they don’t have to go through it alone.
sean-meade