Category: depression

Posted in depression, mental illness

HotLines & Helplines-What You Need to Know

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Have you ever felt that you need to talk to someone but you don’t know where to turn?  Did you ever think of calling a Crisis Hotline?  Maybe you don’t think you are in crisis.  You don’t want to ‘bother’ someone if it’s not really an emergency.  Maybe you’re embarrassed.  Right?  

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at the crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

There is a list of phone numbers, text numbers, websites and more ways to contact someone for help on my Mental Health Help page HERE. Below are a few of those. 

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

No Shame

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  With this in mind, please read the piece below. 

I’ve heard people say things like “Oh, she’s just depressed”.  Just?

Most people, unless they’ve been there, have no idea what depression is really all about.  Most people use the word Sad.

It’s not really sad.  But yeah, sometimes it is.  It’a hollow, hopeless, emptiness, that consumes you.  Your world is black and bleak.  Nothing matters.

You could be expecting your first grandchild, or your son’s dream of attending Yale just came true, it doesn’t matter.  You put on a brave face, smile and act the part, but inside, you are barely functioning.

This is depression.

Continue reading “No Shame” →

Posted in depression, mental illness

Some encouraging mental health news & then…

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Please Read this important piece, written by Minnesota Prairie Roots. Help end the stigma!

Minnesota Prairie Roots

This message refers to the struggles associated with mental illness. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted file photo)

WE’VE ALL SEEN THEM—fundraisers and GoFundMe campaigns to help individuals and families who are struggling. Perhaps you’ve even been in that spot of needing financial help following a devastating event or a major health crisis. You’ve likely attended many fundraisers and/or donated online. I am thankful for such generosity.

Typically, these pancake breakfasts, spaghetti dinners, silent auctions,…crowdfunding efforts follow a diagnosis like cancer, a car accident or a major event like a house fire. Missed work and overwhelming medical and other bills all too often deplete finances. And if not for the assistance of caring family, friends and even strangers, many could not get through the challenges.

Yet, in the all of this, I’ve often wondered why individuals who’ve experienced a mental health crisis are not fundraising also. When they’ve been hospitalized and/or…

View original post 829 more words

Posted in depression, Uncategorized

Depression-A Killer

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

How long will this subject remain in the shadows?  How long will it have such a stigma attached to it that people dare not even use the word ‘Depression’?

Life has no value to depression.  EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.

More than 38,000 people a year commit suicide.  Yet 80 to 90% of those that seek help for depression are helped  using therapy and/or drugs.

The problem with that, is the fact that only about 50% of those that suffer from depression seek help. Why?  Because it’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to talk about!

Kurt Cobain, Robbin Williams, Mindy McCready, director of the movie Top Gun Tony Scott, linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs; Jovan Belcher, actress Lucy Gordon and Jonathan Brandis-star of The Never Ending Story.  These are all people that committed suicide.  I could easily fill a page with names.

Depression is sneaky and deceptive.  It creeps into your life in such subtle ways, you don’t even know it’s happening until one day, you look around yourself and your entire word has gone grey.  What I mean by grey, is that your world no longer has any color to it.  It has no life.  NOTHING matters any more.  NOTHING brings you joy.  Depression has stolen that from you.

(this is one of those things that No One wants to talk about or admit to) I am one of the lucky ones.  I’ve struggled with depression off and on for most of my life. I never attempted suicide, but I did think about it at times.

Right now, I’m good.  Hell, I’m great!  Life is wonderful, alive and quite rich for me.  But I never know if or when it may come into my life again.  I hope never.  But I can’t be certain of that.   

WEB MD says that some of the signs of depression are:

  • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
  • Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
  • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
  • Restlessness or feeling slowed down
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
  • Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

If you know of someone that might be depressed, reach out to them.  Start a conversation.  Let them know that it’s alright to talk about it!  Let’s bring depression out of the shadows and into the light.  This is the only way people are going to feel safe enough to talk about it and seek help.  

* I found my information/statistics at various websites.  Here are a few that have wonderful articles on depression and how to seek help:

WEDMD

SAVE.ORG

Mental Health America

Copyright (C) 2018 Penny Wilson

Please be sure to check out my Mental Health Help Page for more helpful resources.

*I know that this is a repeat of an older post, but I felt that it was worth repeating. ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness, Writing

Emotional Intelligence Developer Website

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

The nice people at the Emotional Intelligence Developer’s website have asked me to be a contributor on their blog.  What EID says about their site:

“Emotional Intelligence is all about developing your mental and emotional control (EQ)

Read Self-help content published by writers who promote (EQ). Our messages are broad. The work shared on this website comes from writers who are passionate about helping people grow.”

My first post on EID’s site is called No Shame.  Please give it a look, spend some time on the site and show them a little love.  

Thank you! Penny ❤

Posted in depression, Life, mental illness, Writing

New Year and Depression

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

As the end of the year approaches, we all tend to reflect on what has happened over the course of the year.  I want to go back a little further than that.

In May of 2017, I came out of a several-years-long depression.  I remember it so clearly.  It was like a veil had been lifted and I was seeing the world for the first time.

With this in mind, I looked back at my stats for the last couple of year here on WordPress.

In 2017 there was a good-sized spike in my activity here.  That new enthusiasm to write was due to the “awakening” from my depression.

My Most Viewed post of all time has been one I titled Depression-A-Killer.  That tells me that there is still a HUGE need for enlightenment, awareness and information.  The stigma remains, but I do think that the battle to end it is making progress.

Why do I write about Depression?   EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.  Reason enough?  I thought so too. If you need help -The Suicide Prevention Hotline, available 24/7 is 1-800-273-8255  Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me at times.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

The one thing in my life that I am most thankful for is the end of my depression.  Depression took so much from me, it feels amazing to have my life back.  I’m happier than I’ve ever been and my life is full and rich.  I have many, many blessings.

If you would like to see any of the other pieces I’ve written about Depression, you can find those HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

As you can see this is a subject that is important to me. 🙂 ❤

As we go into a new year, I want to thank all of you that have joined me on this up and down journey.  I hope that each of you are blessed with every happiness your heart could desire.

Please check out my page on Mental Health Help HERE. 

*Update from 2023

The post above was originally written in 2018. My depression is thankfully in check.  I cherish each day that I am free from that darkness.  At the end of 2021, I did have a period of time where my Depression and Anxiety peaked.  But early into 2022, that had once again abated.  My life is rich, full and so very blessed. 

Posted in depression, mental illness

I’m not fine

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

The truth is, you see, I’m not fine.  What the world sees is a lie.  A lie to help them cope.  A lie to help me cope.

My lies serve me well.  Sometimes.  They hide the demons that fly under the radar to steal my mind.

I keep a careful watch.  But, they come whether I want them to or not.  I must be ever vigilant, to recognize them before they pounce.  Their disguises vary with each encounter.

There is a sense, a feeling, that they are coming.  Sometimes.  Other times, they attack without warning.

I lose the will of pretending at times.  I give in to them.  They are stronger than I am.  My resolve to smile and continue the lies wane.  I will retreat to my little cave under the covers.  If I sleep, I then find respite, a reprieve from the continual onslaught.  The darkness of sleep is preferable to the darkness I am subjected to by the demons.

Then, miraculously, they’re gone.  They’ve retreated back to where they came from; to the dark, dank recesses of my mind.  Perhaps they are gathering forces to come again.  Perhaps they are gone forever.  I don’t know.  I won’t know until they return, if they return.

For now, my days are brighter.  I can look forward to tomorrow.

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*This is a work of fiction, my friends.  I am well and doing fine.  I haven’t written about Depression in a while and wanted to do so.

*If you or someone you know needs help, Please TALK to someone.  Please see more helpful resources on my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Image by Constance Kowalik from Pixabay

Posted in depression, mental illness

Stephen “Twitch” Boss

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

EllensGOG-S2-CastBioImage-tWitch-450x450.jpg (450×450)

You may or may not be aware of the passing of Stephen “Twitch” Boss.  He was a lot of things to a lot of people.  Father, husband, dancer, and actor.  He was the Executive Producer of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.  He was also Ellen’s DJ and dance partner. 

Sadly, Twitch lost his life to suicide on December 14th, 2022.  

By all outward appearances, he was a happy, successful person.  I read that one of his friends said that “You never know what’s going on between someone’s ears”.   So true. 

If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the Suicide Prevention Helpline at 988. 

On my Mental Health Help Page, you can find many sources for help and articles on the subjects of Depression and other Mental Health issues.  HERE is a piece I wrote regarding the link between Depression and Suicide.  

Every day, approximately 130 Americans die by suicide. (CDC)

There is one death every 11 minutes in the U.S. by suicide. (CDC)

Suicide takes the lives of over 48,500 Americans every year. (CDC) 

Nearly 800,000 people die by suicide in the world each year, which is roughly one death every 40 seconds.

Is talking to someone too much for you?  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

The bottom line is to TALK.  Please, just reach out and TALK to someone.  Anyone.  There is help available.  Just reach out a hand. 

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*Image found online. Acknowledgements to the owner of the image. 

Posted in depression, Life, mental illness

The Noise of This World

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

At the end of 2021, I was in a deep spiral of depression and anxiety.  Inflation, gas prices, the Pandemic, interest rates, drought, war, politics, global warming, mass shootings, etc., etc., etc.  There is certainly enough to be concerned about if you simply look beyond your own front door.   With the insurmountable number of issues the world has, how do we deal with it all?

Being an introvert, the noise of this world can become overwhelming for me.  In the last year, I moved to a small, quiet town and have a home in the country.  For me, this life is the most peaceful it has been in decades.

Even with my current quiet lifestyle, one can’t simply ignore the issues going on around us.  At least I can’t.  All you have to do is turn on the TV and you’ll be bombarded with images and stories that are disturbing.  That’s a LOT of negativity to absorb.  I want to be informed.  I’m not a “head in the sand” type of person.  So how do I deal with it?

Negativity breeds negativity.  Have you heard the phrase “misery loves company”?  It’s true.  You must distance yourself from it in some way.  Below are some ways of coping with the negativity.

*Take the negativity in small doses.  If you MUST watch the news, limit yourself.  Set a limit of exposure.  I do not expose myself to image upon image of war, or weather disasters, or the back-biting of politics, or a number of other things.  I know they exist, but I am not overloading myself with the details.

*Tend your own garden. Even though my life is a quiet one, there are responsibilities and activities that I must tend to.  I own a fixer-upper house that I am always working on.  I am taking my writing interest more seriously.  I spend time with family and stay in touch with friends.  I try to stay active and healthy.  These are not only important in my life, they also distance me from the constant flow of negativity.

*Do your part (within your means).  Want to help?  Seeing all the awful things that go on in the world, it’s hard not to want to help, to be involved.  So, do What You Can Within Your Means.  Recycle, save water, donate to the food bank and/or local charities, Vote!  You can also volunteer locally.  Libraries, animal shelters and retirement communities always need help.  Shop small and shop locally.  Small independent business owners need your help.  They feel the crunch too.

*Be prepared.  Keep your gas tank full.  Stay stocked up on the basics/essentials in your pantry.  Have emergency water and first aid items on hand.  THIS is an excellent website that can help. They have information on everything from building an Emergency Preparedness Kit to Cyber Security.  

A few things to keep in mind:

*It’s not all about you.  There are some things that just do not concern you and there’s nothing that you can do about them. 

*We’re all in the same boat.  You are not alone in feeling the enormity of the problems of this world. 

*See the reality of the situation.  In the Big Scheme of things, Worldwide, there is only So Much you can do.  Keep in mind that YOU alone, are limited by your means, your location, etc.

*Do What You Can.  If you want to help, then help.  Do what’s within your power to help.  A lot of little things add up to bigger things that can help overall. 

*Seek help.  If things get to be overwhelming, seek help.  TALK to someone.  Let those around you know that you are struggling.  THIS is my page on Mental Health Help.  There are a number or resources and articles that may be helpful.

No one knows how much time we have on this planet.  Be happy when you can, enjoy and be grateful for what you have, live today, for today.  Spend time with your loved ones.  Appreciate the little things that make you smile. 

“Mind your own biscuits and everything will be gravy.” 

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, mental illness

New Suicide Prevention Hotline – 988 – Is Finally a Reality!

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Finally, in the US, we have a 3 digit number for the Suicide Prevention Hotline.  It’s 988.  This has been slow coming.  Why, I don’t know.  But thank God that it’s finally here!  

If you or someone you know is thinking of suicide, you can now use the 3 digit number to reach a professional that will assist you in getting the help you need.  The old # 1 (800)-273-8255, is still available.  But the new number will be so much easier to remember!  

In the UK, if you’re struggling with negative thoughts or suicidal feelings, you can call the Samaritans at 116 123; and in Australia, call Lifeline at 13 11 14. 

THIS is a wonderful article about several crisis hotlines and texting that is available to a number of different people.  

If you would like more information on Suicide Prevention or Depression, please be sure to visit my Mental Health Help Page HERE.  

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤ Copyright (C) 2022