I was told ‘depression isn’t real’ and I really wanted to believe it
Imagine someone saying the anguish you’re experiencing is something you made up.
Topic: self-harm
Between the Saint and the Psychiatrist: Derealization in Song
When I learned about Saint Dymphna, the patron saint of those who suffer from nervous, emotional, and mental disorders, the anxious and the depressed, I embraced her as a sort of personal guardian.
Self-Harm and Safe Places
Not everyone gets to bear witness to me. Not everyone gets to know my pain. And that’s okay.
The Light is What You Need
Despite all the light that’s surrounding me, inside I feel dark.
It’s Okay to Slow Down
I ran until anorexia almost took me over completely. I ran until the scars tallied skin from my thigh to my waist because I couldn’t cope. I ran until I couldn’t anymore.
Living With Scars
The thing is, my scars—what should be a sign of healing, perseverance, and survival—can be the most triggering thing.
To Anyone Struggling
Take a step back and look at all the other days which terrified you, and you still made it through.
Never Too Broken
If healing is finite, I am far from being healed, but I am not broken.
Choosing Courage
You don’t have to survive and endure pain to be strong. Sometimes being strong means freeing yourself of it.
Kitchen Sink
Maybe you’re like me, wondering if the temptation to harm yourself will ever go away. If I’m being honest, I really wish it would.
Forward
I reached five years of being self-harm free this past October. It was a milestone that often seemed impossible to achieve.
I Want to Live
It was a matter of telling myself, “I want to live,” even when all I wanted to do was die.
