NEVER LET GO

The suicide of actor Robin Williams has really impacted a lot of people around the world. What it did for me, was open my eyes in several ways.  Money truly doesn't buy happiness (though I knew this to some degree). Even the seemingly most happy person hides some of the most painful secrets behind their smiles.  Outside appearances are quite often deceptive to what is twisting and turning on the inside. 

Oh, wait, I knew these things. I live these things. I fight with these things and oh so many more. I have always taught my children (by birth and inherited) that mental health is vital to maintain just like any other aspect of our health like heart health, hearing, sight, on and on.  When I realized that I was suffering from depression, around age 15, mental illness was kept quiet.  You didn't talk about it because it made you crazy and crazy people were put away.  I wanted to educate my children to understand that mental illness was no different than any other illness that could potentially cost you your life.  No negative stigmas in this family. 

Then, in trying to walk into faith, I tried a more spiritual approach to working with my illness and working towards a healthier life.  Then, BAM! Someone says that my depression, anxiety etc are just mere sins that need to be turned over to God.  WHOA! What a set back.  I am now 3 plus years out passed that statement and have made my own determination about this illness on a spiritual level.  Here goes...

The more light (rainbows) we can add to our lives when we are having so-so days or ok days or even those rare good days, the better equipped we are to fight our way through the oh so consuming and unbelievably heavy darkness in order to emerge a little sooner, a little better and maybe a little more educated for the next fight.  The illness is not a sin, it is an illness.  The battle that must be fought is to realize that we can be stronger than the illness.  Find positive....whatever that looks like for you.  I have found some pretty amazing people in my "circle" lately that have provided me with so much positive ammunition that I find myself daring the darkness to come at me!! Some of these people are spiritual walkers, some are not.  But what they have in common is expressing their love for me in ways that I can believe them and hold on to when I start facing the negative rivers flowing in my mind. 

We need to find what works for us individually since depression is an individual illness and not a group issue.  It's not common to find someone on the same level as you regarding mental illness.  Similarities?  Sure.  Similar causes? Possibly.  I was blessed some years ago to develop a friendship with someone who truly shared my illness on so many levels.  This friend said to me, "you cannot become a statistic, don't allow it.  Suicide is not an option!" Oh the tears we shared that night. Then, tragically, my friend took his life. He left me. After such a connection and a promise to call one another when the darkness started...he succumbed.  Boy was I angry!  But then I realized, I had to fight harder.  I had to get stronger.  I could not allow this devastating disease make me follow that same path.  I would create a new path. This was not easy.  Still isn't.  Never will be.  But I have learned to accept for truth the hardest lesson of all...I do not suffer alone in this illness. 

We need to remove the stigmas and misconceptions and any other negative thoughts & opinions about mental illness and recognize that money cannot save you.  Education may not save you.  We are in need of spiritual guidance through the darkness and need to find a light within our lives that will shine through the darkness in it's worst place and hold on for dear life...not death.  No one is immune to this disease.  No one can fight it alone.  Find your light, your rainbow, your positive hand that you can hold on to and NEVER LET GO!

All my love, Me

"Come to me, all who are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest" Matthew 11:28

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the desolate pit...He put a new song in my mouth." Psalm 40:1-3

"Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help"  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10