I know that I am not alone. There are many of you out there fighting the same fight - day in and day out. I am not talking about advocacy or campaigns. Those fights are difficult enough by themselves. It is only compounded when one suffers from depression.
So join me after the jump.
Depression is not a normal illness. Hell, I hate using the word illness to describe it. People experience it in different ways. A numbness that prevents the body from getting out of bed. An anger at the persistent feeling of hopelessness. Or a sadness that does not want to go away. Feel free to add more in the comments section.
For the most part it invokes a false loneliness.
I am aware of the love and support I have from a terrific partner, parents and a fantastic sister. Despite it I feel alone in a fucked up world.
I am aware of the support and camaraderie I get from online friends and allies. There is an energy in online organizing and a passion that often seems unmatched. Despite it I still feel alone in a fucked up world.
Again - I know that I am not alone here. So I created the group "Do Not Say GBCW" as a way for us to write, support and be there for each other. Every little bit helps.
Every once in a while a GBCW diary pops up with someone leaving Daily Kos in a huff. But we should all be aware of the grim reality of people saying GBCW offline as well. According to Wikipedia:
Suicide in the United States is the 11th leading cause of death in the country. In 2006, the total number of suicide deaths was 33,300. It was the 7th leading cause of death for males, and 16th leading cause of death for females. Suicide was the third leading cause of death for young people ages 15 to 24.
As the economy continues to struggle more people will find themselves delving into despair. As politicians continue to ignore us activists might find the anger and hopelessness a little too much to bear.
It is tough out there but I am not saying GBCW and I hope others don't as well.