The other day I was listening to music, which is one of my coping strategies. Music has the power to lift me up when I am struggling with depression and anxiety. Usually I listen to classic rock, but sometimes I venture into other genres. I was listening to P!nk and her song I Am Here struck me. I felt the words. It made me ponder where I am and why I am here. Why has my journey landed me where it has? Why am I in different places on my journey at different times?
I am here to say that living with depression, or any mental illness, sucks. Often, there is a sense of finality to it; a sense that we will not be able to overcome our mental illness. Can you imagine living with that? Do you live with this same sense? I am here to share a bit about depression.
Depression ebbs and flows. There are ups and downs. These are difficult to navigate. We try to hold onto the times when we feel better, but sometimes we are sent crashing down without warning. We plummet into the darkness. Other times it is a slow slide into the darkness. Both experiences are hard. I am here to say that I live these ebbs and flows. It is part of having a mental illness., but I believe we can live with depression. We just need the right supports.
Many of my posts have shared supports that can help us live with depression and other mental illnesses. There are mental health professionals who lead us into healing. Finding the right psychiatrist, psychologist, psychiatric nurse practitioner, therapist, counselor, or support group leader makes a significant difference in our healing journey. I am here to say that without my mental health team, I would be drowning in the darkness of my illness. Supports might include medications. It likely includes therapy. There are non-traditional treatments such as TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) and esketamine. There are support groups led by members of groups such as NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness). We also have our individual coping strategies. These might include breathing exercises, journaling, yoga, exercise, music, art, and various other activities that we find useful. You can look back over my previous posts to learn more about many of these supports.
I researched the meaning of P!nk’s song, I Am Here. It is intended to be about living in the present moment. It is about self-acceptance and resilience. The song encourages listeners to be present even in the face of life’s challenges. I do not know P!nk’s reasons for writing this song, but I feel her talking to me. Living with mental illness is a challenge. Depression makes life difficult. Maybe we can draw from the idea behind this song. We can learn to say, “I am here” in the face of mental illness. It may tear us down, but we are here. We are still standing. If we remind ourselves that despite the efforts of mental illness to tear us down, we are still here.
I am here to say that mental illness is a journey. We live the journey each day. We cannot hide from it. Healing exists. That healing feels good. It should be our goal to remain in the times of healing. When we do not feel that healing, we need to remind ourselves that we are here. We need only keep showing up. Whatever way we can show up is okay. The important part is making the effort to be present in our lives. That is how we fight mental illness. We say, I am here.
No matter where we are on our mental health journey, we can say, “I am here.” Everywhere on our journeys is important. Every place has value. We may be struggling, but we are still present on our journey and that place has value. We have just as much value when we are struggling as we do when we are experiencing healing. Hold onto that belief. We can be present wherever we are on our journeys.
If you are reading this and do not live with mental illness, first I thank you for having the interest in reading about mental illness. Maybe you know or love someone with mental illness. Maybe you work with people with mental illness. I encourage you to say “I am here” as well. Being present has value for all of us. When we acknowledge we are present in our lives, we find the strength to live life to the fullest. When we say “I am here” we are letting others know that our experiences matter. We are here for each.
This blog is my way of standing up and saying “I am here” for myself and for all those who battle mental illness or any battle.
Check back Thursday for part 3 in my series: Debunking Common Depression Myths
