Having had a couple of weeks away from writing this blog I was wondering if it was just another flash in the pan victim of my short attention span, nothing has inspired me to write, a gental form of apathy toward sharing my thoughts...
Any hoo! Rescue comes in the form of growlyness! Ha ha! Good old angry pants, glad we kept you in the back of the draw!
So what is it that has irked me? What has churned up the need to vocalise my opinion and inflict it in the world??
The following statement and those akin to it...
"Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign you have been strong for to long"
I see the gesture, is it helpful? Is it fuck! (See!! It made me swear I'm so cross!*)
Firstly, this is a backhanded compliment, by saying 'you are not weak' it implies that you appear weak but don't worry about it, what? I appear weak? Oh shit! More self depreciating mud for my evil inner voice to sling at me when it hadn't actually occurred that weak was something I even needed to worry about!
Secondly, strong for too long, so give up!? Have a break, a week, a month, a life....I'll tell you what, the last fucking thing I need is permission to drop out of taking part! And aside from that I wasn't being strong, I was doing what I do, I was coping, trying to stay below everyone else's radar, I certainly did not feel strong! so, another inadvertent pressure that my behaviour led folk to believe I was strong when actually I wasn't and now I feel like a liar and a failure!
What do you mean that makes no sense that wasn't what you meant!?? It's not about you it's about me! This is about how this statement makes me feel and as I write I am getting more and more cross!
Lastly, Depression and other invisible ailments are AN ILLNESS!! It's like saying to me, gastroenteritis isn't a sign of weakness it's a sign of being strong .. Blah blah blah! A headache, the flu, cancer, et al! Like if we hadn't 'stayed strong' we wouldn't have it....wait what...so what you are saying is I bought this on myself?!??
So, you see, this statement and those akin to it are not in the least bit helpful, desirable or wanted on my timeline or indeed my life :-) your gesture has been noted, I appreciate the thought. Now if you don't mind fuck off with your condescending twaddle.
NB apologies if this blog post upsets you, may I suggest that you don't read it again. It is, as always an expression of MY opinion and mine alone, although I suspect I am not alone. I would just like people to think before they speak or share.
* okay, I admit it, I don't actually need and excuse to swear, I love it!
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