Terrific, Cambo! Quoting the whole thing so it's more accessable to those who may happen to wonder in de vez en cuandoCambo wrote:I'm feeling good about myself today. After so many people helping me, directly or indirectly, with my depression, last night I was able to give something back.
I was at a birthday party for a coworker and friend. There's quite a close knit group of us from my work, who regularly hang out and drink and generally mess about. I'd been on a road trip with quite a few of them, during which we bonded and became much closer.
Anyway, in the later hours of the party, I went out outside to find a few people gathered around a girl who I didn't know all that well. I mean, we'd chatted and hung out within the group, but nothing beyond that. She was crying, and her friends were doing their best to comfort her. I asked what was up, and she gave some evasive answer, but the birthday girl piped up: "talk to Cameron. He knows all about it." Turns out the crying girl had been struggling with depression over the past few months (I'd spoken with most of my the work crew about my depression. and had especially open conversations about it on the road trip).
So three of us- myself, the crying girl, and one of her close friends- ended up sitting down and having a deep and meaningful about depression. She was echoing so much of what I've been through, and I did my best to tell her all the things I need people to tell me when I'm in those states. For example, she said she was always afraid of talking to people about it because they maight think she was weird. So I told her the simple truth- nights spent biting my pillow and sobbing through my teeth, having my world crash down around my ears...then rebuilding only to have it come falling down again. I told her how many friends I had who experienced it even worse than me. We talked and we talked, and after we'd finished talking she hugged me and thanked me and told me that I had really helped her. Another guy at the party told me that he was very impressed at my openness, that he could only admit to his own depression if someone like me went before him.
So, today I feel like I've done some good, and that I offered something of worth. I also felt very grateful for places like this thread, which have helped me learn to set my shame aside and search for true, honest communication. So, thanks guys. You helped that girl as well.
I particularly like what you have bolded. So much is depression stigmatized, intentionally or unintentionally, that pointless, unnecessary shame is added to its burden.
Naturally. 
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