I to my husband, after spending two weeks solo parenting two kids plus working an incredibly stressful job for an average of 10 hours a day: “I cry a lot lately, especially thinking that the kids one day will die.” [Note: the kids are 3 and 6 and healthy]
My husband to me: “Are you depressed?”
“Uh? Who, me??”
Much love, Nora 💜🌸 I hope you are feeling better, looking forward to office hours!!
Thank you, again, Nora for your honesty and humor. Your thoughts sound so much like my daughter who also struggles with depression and high anxiety. Sharing your life with others lets people feel they are not so alone in their despair. I read many of your essays to her.
I deal with depression also but how you describe it feels different from me and very similar to my daughter who I’ve been trying so hard to understand. It’s hard for me to understand the not able to do things- I’ve said “just half ass it, it’s better than not doing it at all” and she says she can’t and while I absolutely believe that’s how she feels, it’s a feeling I don’t have so I’m trying. 🩷be well🩷
Oh, friend. You did the biggest hardest part. You asked for help. Remember, all of those things take at least 6-8 weeks to reach maximum effectiveness (I am a nurse, not a wellness influencer. HA!) so things should continue to improve. Sending you love and grace and huge, not church whispered "Hallelujah!"
Reading this felt like you've been living in my head for months. Thank you for sharing this, Nora. And thank you to those who have posted comments. Even though we've come far as a society in discussing mental health, it's still hard to talk about it openly. You're all very brave in my opinion and you've all helped me feel less alone in my depression and hormone-addled body. We're all in this together - hallelujah.
Same. I hope the hormones help, mine was/is always the stupid effin hormones. Also, did you know Nick Cave (i know!) has a bouncy sweet wild song where "the fish bubble up to take a look" and there are "GAMBOLING LAMBS"?! It is called Breathless and although I understand and deeply appreciate Nick Cave as a cultural icon, his discography is not familiar to me but this song seems unusual. Anyhow, despite its title it has helped me stop sobbing and find my breath many times and I thank Mr Cave profusely. As much as I thank you for sharing Nora, its so hard to be a human, the only thing that helps me is companionship. Thanks.
I, too, have been embarrassed by my depression. What do you mean I am surrounded by love in every immediate direction that I look, yet I still can't brush my teeth regularly or respond to a simple text message from a friend. What do you mean I am so incredibly privileged to have the people in my life who support me but I can't manage to move my body or put together a healthy meal to nourish myself.
Depression is weird like that. I have also cried when I didn't receive a devastating diagnosis - because if I would have, it would have actually given me a concrete reason for my lack of will to do...anything.
Back before I became disabled due to my depression, I would dream of going to jail (for what crime, you might ask? I have no idea because I am an outstanding law abiding citizen) so I could finally "rest" and have no one expect anything from me.
Your post today resonated deeply with me. I am not one to comment on anything and here I am spilling my guts to strangers on your Substack (in the comments section none the less).
I to my husband, after spending two weeks solo parenting two kids plus working an incredibly stressful job for an average of 10 hours a day: “I cry a lot lately, especially thinking that the kids one day will die.” [Note: the kids are 3 and 6 and healthy]
My husband to me: “Are you depressed?”
“Uh? Who, me??”
Much love, Nora 💜🌸 I hope you are feeling better, looking forward to office hours!!
You are not alone. Hallelujah
daffodils. xo
Thank you, again, Nora for your honesty and humor. Your thoughts sound so much like my daughter who also struggles with depression and high anxiety. Sharing your life with others lets people feel they are not so alone in their despair. I read many of your essays to her.
I deal with depression also but how you describe it feels different from me and very similar to my daughter who I’ve been trying so hard to understand. It’s hard for me to understand the not able to do things- I’ve said “just half ass it, it’s better than not doing it at all” and she says she can’t and while I absolutely believe that’s how she feels, it’s a feeling I don’t have so I’m trying. 🩷be well🩷
Hoping you continue to feel better Nora. Sending you love and gratitude for being the special person you are. 🩷
Oh, friend. You did the biggest hardest part. You asked for help. Remember, all of those things take at least 6-8 weeks to reach maximum effectiveness (I am a nurse, not a wellness influencer. HA!) so things should continue to improve. Sending you love and grace and huge, not church whispered "Hallelujah!"
PS Spotify just went ahead and showed me the "video" for "Breathless" and I cannot recommend it, so strive for audio only if you care to sample. XO
Reading this felt like you've been living in my head for months. Thank you for sharing this, Nora. And thank you to those who have posted comments. Even though we've come far as a society in discussing mental health, it's still hard to talk about it openly. You're all very brave in my opinion and you've all helped me feel less alone in my depression and hormone-addled body. We're all in this together - hallelujah.
Same. I hope the hormones help, mine was/is always the stupid effin hormones. Also, did you know Nick Cave (i know!) has a bouncy sweet wild song where "the fish bubble up to take a look" and there are "GAMBOLING LAMBS"?! It is called Breathless and although I understand and deeply appreciate Nick Cave as a cultural icon, his discography is not familiar to me but this song seems unusual. Anyhow, despite its title it has helped me stop sobbing and find my breath many times and I thank Mr Cave profusely. As much as I thank you for sharing Nora, its so hard to be a human, the only thing that helps me is companionship. Thanks.
I, too, have been embarrassed by my depression. What do you mean I am surrounded by love in every immediate direction that I look, yet I still can't brush my teeth regularly or respond to a simple text message from a friend. What do you mean I am so incredibly privileged to have the people in my life who support me but I can't manage to move my body or put together a healthy meal to nourish myself.
Depression is weird like that. I have also cried when I didn't receive a devastating diagnosis - because if I would have, it would have actually given me a concrete reason for my lack of will to do...anything.
Back before I became disabled due to my depression, I would dream of going to jail (for what crime, you might ask? I have no idea because I am an outstanding law abiding citizen) so I could finally "rest" and have no one expect anything from me.
Your post today resonated deeply with me. I am not one to comment on anything and here I am spilling my guts to strangers on your Substack (in the comments section none the less).
Woke up today *hallelujah*
The sun is shining *hallelujah*
*everything. hallelujah*