Take a quick few minutes to read my earlier article on depression and then quickly realize how hypocritical I was being. I apologize for that, but I'm being honest now. Also, I want to thanmy former roommates for getting me help and for caring about my wellbeing. Without one of them, I might not be alive today.
For 4 nights and 5 days, I was in a hospital. I think, given the information I've granted you, you can fill in the rest. That's not what matters, though. What matters is what I learned.
1) Depression is real.
This can sound stupid saying it now, but even though I've been feeling depressed I haven't had the real proof until recently. Seeing what it feels like to not be depressed has changed my outlook on depression entirely. For me, the fog of sadness has cleared and I finally feel like myself again. But I'll always remember what it feels like to sink, and my compassion for those going through the same is boundless. It does take trial and error to find the best medication for you, though. Seek a psychiatrist to help you find the best one. My first attempt made me more depressed and suicidal, so be careful.
2) People struggle.
Obviously, I knew people were out there in the world struggling. But once you get the chance to see them and hear them and take it all in, your world tilts a little in the right direction. The people I met here, I loved. They were enticing, beautiful humans who bore their souls in front of everyone. I am so incredibly grateful for the opportunity I was granted to meet with them and hear their stories. I guess I'm saying that you can never know how much is going on in a person's head, so you should never assume.
3) There are all kinds of crazy.
Crazy can be easy for one to define, but once you see everyone's versions of crazy, you realize that everyone in the world is crazy to a certain degree. Accepting that you are a little crazy makes life easier and makes it easier to empathize with literally any kind of human in the world. The world is so, so big and there are all types of people out there. All you can do is provide an upbeat environment and be understanding of others situations.
4) Compassion is key.
I think we all tend to get caught up in our own perspectives and our own worlds that we forget about the people around us. When people tell us that they're having a rough time or that they're going through something, we tend to brush past their issue and focus on ourselves. Oftentimes, we come across someone struggling and we attempt to provide a solution to a complex, personal issue. Reaching out to others, smiling, taking the time to help when it's needed is compassion. Being empathic and truly listening to what people are telling you is compassion. Without compassion, everyone feels unheard and like a burden to others, like I did.
5) Love life.
Living is hard, dying is easier. This sentiment is present everywhere in the hospital I went to. But, if life wasn't hard it wouldn't be worth living. People love you, they care about you, and they want what's best for you. Life can get so hard that you're quite literally screaming for it all to end, much of which I saw while in the hospital. What's important is to take a deep breath, take a step back, and then ask for help. Reach out to others. There's at least one person in the world who cares about you, so let them carry your burden too.