Growing up with a depressed parent was normal. Does that make sense? I didn't know any difference. I thought every parent cried themselves to sleep. That all mothers ended up in the psych ward at least 5x times a year. That most parents had addiction issues and thus slip ups happened every now and then. Because that was my normal. Depression was our family's normal. We didn't live by days of the week so much or special events; I measured time in the dark and light bouts of her illness
My normal was doctors and meds being prescribed to her; her lazy Susan of pills that sat upon our microwave. The AA and NAA meetings that I sat and coloured through. My normal was a mother who sat in her room for hours and hours on end. Alone and weeping. Zero laughter. Very little excitement or enthusiasm for life. And almost no physical touch. Almost as if the zest of anything had been squeezed out with such violence that only a shadow of a person prepared meals and drove me places.
We didn't live by days of the week so much or special events; I measured time in the dark and light bouts of her illness.
I thought everyone at 14 had mothers who hurt themselves in a fit of rage within their depression. Then I visited my "best friend" and realized that wasn't true. So I didn't say anything. Because talking about it only deepened the realization that depression not only consumed our household; but stalked me in my mind. Always pretending things were better then they were. Never sharing the intensity behind the abuse that came with this mental illness. This illness that I despised. That I hated. It wouldn't ever touch me.
So forgive me. I didn't understand depression. I wanted to. I really did. It missed me in the the passing of genes and I've never experienced it myself. I've lived it; I've been a one woman audience to the chaos it brings. But the actual all knowing feeling isn't something I am intimately in tune with. Just like I can't comprehend not being able to take care of your children. Or hurting yourself because the pain is so bad. Or requiring your child to parent you through another psych ward intake as you beg the doctors to admit her because you can't do another night of suicide watch. It doesn't make sense to me. And if that comes across critical please know that's not the purpose. I genuinely cannot psychically fathom those feelings and emotions. I don't think I ever will. But I have dug deep; done the first hand research of this disease. For most of my life I had zero empathy for my mother and her "issues." Why couldn't she snap out of it? Often in her darkest days I would scream and scream for her to figure herself out. Get her act together and move on. Why did it haunt her day in and out. It looked like such a weakness to me. Until the depression killed her and she committed suicide. And then something clicked.
Why couldn't she snap out of it? Often in her darkest days I would scream and scream for her to figure herself out.
I'm embarrassed to say for many years I judged. Full on gavel in hand judged. And I am sorry. So sorry. Because I was without empathy. And THAT is the worst thing you can withhold from someone suffering. Maybe it was because I was so full of rage that even as an adult I struggled to have empathy for friends with depression. I always had sympathy; but never empathy. And that's not the same at all. Brene Brown describes the difference as: "sympathy being the pity we feel for someone else's hardships whereas empathy is the "me too," the act of putting yourself in their shoes." I cringe at the thoughts that once ran through my mind. How high on my horse I sat. Because in my head if I judged it, twisted it, or mocked it -- the "it" didn't have any weight, or value. Which meant they were just "sad." And anyone can stop being sad.
Depression isn't sad. It isn't a sappy movie that triggers some tears or a really good cry. It's not Adele on a rainy day with a glass of wine. It's not the weepy feeling we get when our monthly cycle comes, or the tears we weep when miss our best friend.
It's torture. Absolute pure and utter torture. And I am not using that word lightly at all. It attacks the brain in ways in which those of us who aren't struggling can't imagine; and then we expect you to snap out of it and make dinner. As if you have any control over this all encompassing pain that you can't shake off. It enters your soul and refuses to leave. Or allow you to get out of bed. Or pick up your crying child, or have a shower.
I'm sorry if I ever pushed you to "just smile." I wish now I hadn't pushed so hard with my mother; as a child I didn't comprehend it but as an adult I think she could have used some empathy.
Imagine an open sore. On your arm or leg. One that was cut long ago. It oozes and weeps through whatever bandage you place on it. Sometimes the pain is more then you can handle and you just have to lay there, while other times you can still move but only in a fog because the throbbing is still there. It's always there. And yet you carry on. You try to wake up, get dressed and smile. Mostly pretending. Always pretending. That is depression. The sore that may scab, hopefully scar; but always there.
Here's what I know to be true now. About my mother who suffered and about my friends who are suffering. They aren't sad. It's not just a rainy cloud day. And I'm sorry I ever thought that. I'm sorry if I ever pushed you to "just smile." I wish now I hadn't pushed so hard with my mother; as a child I didn't comprehend it but as an adult I think she could have used some empathy. Some "me too" in my words and actions.
I couldn't do it back then; but let me now. To my friends that are struggling to push past the pain; the mothers out there crying themselves to sleep; to those of you who struggling to wake up in the morning and start your day. Im sorry. Your pain is your own. I won't try to fix it, change it or bandaid it. I won't offer you 10 tips on how to smile, and I don't want to tell you to buck up. I want to hold your hand in silence. I want to scream at the world with you and rub your back as you weep. We both know your strong, we both know you can push past this; and if you need me to remind you of this I always will.
Posted originally on www.scarymommy.com
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This post is part of Common Grief, a Healthy Living editorial initiative. Grief is an inevitable part of life, but that doesn't make navigating it any easier. The deep sorrow that accompanies the death of a loved one, the end of a marriage or even moving far away from home, is real. But while grief is universal, we all grieve differently. So we started Common Grief to help learn from each other. Let's talk about living with loss. If you have a story you'd like to share, email us at strongertogether@huffingtonpost.com.
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If you -- or someone you know -- need help, please call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. If you are outside of the U.S., please visit the International Association for Suicide Prevention for a database of international resources.