Too often depression gets minimized or glossed over because it hasn’t earned the respect afforded to most physical diseases and injuries. But just because I can’t point to exactly where it hurts, show you how I’m broken on an x-ray, or prove I’m sick by taking a blood test doesn’t mean I’m OK or that it’s all in my head. I mean it is all in my head, but that doesn’t make it any less real. Not everything that resides in your mind is imaginary.
Depression is not a weakness. In fact, it takes great strength to fight it. For someone who is depressed, even the easy parts of life require effort. It is hard work to reside in the darker parts of yourself. It takes great courage to admit you’re feeling broken or to seek help.
You can read more of Aabye’s work here.
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A version of this piece originally appeared at twloha.com, published with permission.
