https://www.gofundme.com/bretts-treatment-fund

So, I don’t know the above people. I clicked on the link because a good Facebook friend shared it, and I usually find myself caring about causes dear to my friends’ hearts.

Normally I simply donate what I can, click to share on Twitter, and move on with my day.

Today, a line from this page hit me so hard, and I had to write about it for a minute.

This campaign is to help a woman struggling with depression, anxiety, and bipolar disorder, who recently had a situation requiring serious hospitalization and needs help. Of course, she has to fight and beg and plead with her insurance to help cover the cost of this treatment, because health insurance has a long way to go in the treatment of mental illnesses. Which is a whole separate blog post in itself. (Sigh.)

But this is the line that stabbed me in the heart:

“Brett’s very nervous for a lot of reasons–not the least of all because depression can make you believe you don’t deserve help.”

God, that’s SO true isn’t it? Depression makes you feel so inferior, so unworthy. Add to that society’s stigmas, a lack of covered treatment options, and shame about having a mental illness at all, and we are really up against it.

I just wanted to take a moment to say this: If you need help, ask for it. Please. In those moments when you feel clear, find a person you trust to confide in. Reach out online if it feels safer. Surround yourself with people who understand you. People like Brett’s friend Lewis, who will see how dire your situation is and even go so far as to ask for help for you.

If you are lucky enough to live without any mental illnesses, work hard to understand them. Be patient and loving toward the people in your life facing these struggles. Be there for them. Please try to see that they do not feel worthy of help, or even love sometimes.

We are not trying to be victims or attract pity. We are embarrassed and ashamed that we can’t just be “normal”. We are not lazy or trying to get out of life’s responsibilities. When these imbalances take over, we truly can’t see the point. We don’t see our worth. We don’t know why it matters if we try. We feel the world is better off without us. And these feelings are so, horribly, deeply, truly REAL.

Love each other. Please. And for those who struggle to love themselves, love them a little harder.