I can’t say how it started, or even when. One day, it hit me; I realized there was someone else in your life. That we were in the middle of a love triangle. You + Me + HER…
You hadn’t told me about it before, because you thought it was just a passing phase. That the flame would die out. But it was just too intense, a real inferno sweeping everything away…
SHE—she was driving you crazy. Ever since you met her, our family life seemed to have lost its appeal. Your work, too. Your family, too. Nothing interested you anymore. You could have slept for days on end just to avoid facing our reality. There was only her…
SHE eventually took over every thought, day and night. She even managed to control them, blurring everything with a black veil.
SHE was—and is—your depression…
A pretty bad one, actually—doctors would even call it severe—and it’s been going on for years.
I quickly realized just how much hold she had over you. And everything she would put us through. Not just you, of course, but the rest of our little family as well.
I realized why everything was always so complicated: the heavy, tense atmosphere, the feeling of constantly struggling against the current while trying to keep the boat afloat all by myself—to the point where I wondered if you weren’t going to drag me down with you.
For a long time, I blamed you for all of this, but in reality, it was HER. And we’ll most likely have to put up with her for a while longer—or even learn to live with her. But know that from now on, thanks to your honesty with me and, above all, with yourself, we’ll be able to overcome this challenge together. It’s better together, isn’t it?
*If you feel like nothing is going right, talk about it. We can’t say it enough. Also, if you’re supporting someone struggling with a mental health issue, don’t take it all on yourself—seek help from resources in your area or someone you trust.
**Today, for every text message, cell phone call, long-distance call, or tweet using the hashtag #BellCause—as well as every time the video is viewed or the Snapchat or Facebook filter is used—Bell will donate 5¢ to mental health initiatives.
Anonymous