Guess what? I have for you a METAPHOR! Don't we all love those (I am being sarcastic because I am also in the middle of writing a literature essay). It's a sad metaphor, but don't worry because there's a HAPPY ENDING!!!
The thing about depression is that you're on a boat in a storm. You go between fighting for your life with everything you've got, and drowning. Now and again there's somebody helping you with the rigging and you can be happy for a while- but the storm NEVER calms down and you can never stop working.
The thing about depression is that you don't know when you're going to hit land. It could take weeks, months, even years before you ever feel the sand under your feet again. Or never. From a little boat in a storm, it's not easy to see hope (whether it's miles in the distance, or just over the next wave).
But the thing about depression is that there's always a way out. You don't have to stay there. We live on a spherical planet- eventually you're going to hit land, so long as you can hold on long enough. And all you need is a reason to fight. Me, I have things to do one day, things that will save a lot of people from ever being tricked onto this boat. I have people who need me, a world to see before I go and a lot more stories to write.
I'm still finding my way out. But the way I see it, what's important is this: I've started, I've made headway, and I have every intention of seeing the journey through to the end.
The thing about depression is that you don't know when you're going to hit land. It could take weeks, months, even years before you ever feel the sand under your feet again. Or never. From a little boat in a storm, it's not easy to see hope (whether it's miles in the distance, or just over the next wave).
But the thing about depression is that there's always a way out. You don't have to stay there. We live on a spherical planet- eventually you're going to hit land, so long as you can hold on long enough. And all you need is a reason to fight. Me, I have things to do one day, things that will save a lot of people from ever being tricked onto this boat. I have people who need me, a world to see before I go and a lot more stories to write.
I'm still finding my way out. But the way I see it, what's important is this: I've started, I've made headway, and I have every intention of seeing the journey through to the end.
So without further ado, here's a couple of steps that have helped me so far:
1) Find a reason. Let me tell you, this can take a LOT of searching, but there is a reason there for everyone. At first my reason was my family and friends, but since then it has extended into my dreams and ambitions for the future.
1) Find a reason. Let me tell you, this can take a LOT of searching, but there is a reason there for everyone. At first my reason was my family and friends, but since then it has extended into my dreams and ambitions for the future.
2) Get started. The hardest thing about exercise? Getting started. Hardest thing about a homework assignment? Getting started. Hardest thing about beating depression? Getting started. I'm going to quote my dance teacher (J) here: "You've got to COMMIT! Commit to it!"
I've put these here because a) Like any dancer, I love googling leaps and b) in my eyes, a truly spectacular leap is the perfect example of a person who commits.
3) Don't look at how far you have to go: instead realise how far you've come, and celebrate. By making the decision to try, you have already come MILES. I've seen quite a few brave things in my life, but I remain convinced that this one decision is one of the bravest things anyone can do.
Love always,
Em xx
Love always,
Em xx