You are attending a party and you feel like crap. Imagine planning your escape the moment you enter the room?
Envision feeling isolated when you are surrounded by lots of people; with friends, celebrating a birthday party at somebody’s house. You experience emptiness. Chatter, laughter, and enjoyment are overwhelming, yet you are numb. You knew this wasn’t a good idea.
Depression is lonely. Curled up in a ball–lonely.
This happened to me many years ago. I felt obligated to attend a birthday party, and although I resisted, I soon surrendered since it was for a beloved friend, and I was absent from all other celebrations throughout the past year.
Seated in a Lazy-Boy for part of the evening, I held firmly onto a diet Coke and observed the party from afar. I thought it polite to rise and finally mingle, express a smile, pretend to enjoy the evening, yet the feeling of hollowness was debilitating. Laughter echoed.
For most of the year, I was hospitalized many times for depression. Depression was black and muddy; most times, feeling like a zombie and imagined they dumped me into a black hole and left for dead. A life filled with doctors, nurses, medications, lonesome times, seated cross-legged in my hospital room corner daily, attempting to make sense out of anything. I understood there was light up at the top of a hole, yet I was forever waiting to witness any.
I exchanged small talk with some people, yet avoided others as much as possible. Many people at this gathering did not know me, which was a significant relief. I escaped having to share stories of my unpleasant life with my mind drifting throughout any minimal conversations.
I was becoming exhausted, dragged down by feelings of nothingness and hopelessness. Why was everything so dark and gloomy? Escaping from this gathering was my only option.
Apologizing to my friend for my lifeless presence, she looked at me with sadness and hugged me. Strangely, I was lonely yet preferred to be alone, which was bewildering to even me.
“Depression, best known of all the mental illnesses, is difficult to endure and treat. It renders one feeling hopeless and helpless. Experiencing a wintry solitude, where one is completely immobilized, void of any light of optimism. It creates emotional and financial fallout, coupled with a horrible emptiness and black death-like existence. Life tastes sour,”. —– Deb
It took over ten years to recover from major depression, including additional hospitalizations, countless ECT’s, and a myriad of medications. Finally, a different psychiatrist was in the wings, placing me on the appropriate meds, and I returned to the workforce a few years later. Enduring six years with this company, I succumbed to depression once again, forced to go on disability, and currently unemployed. Although I’m seldom in that black hole now, I can continue with my passions, which are writing, blogging, and art.
The loneliness and isolation, though, I feel it but I will never forget nor desire to experience that void sense again.
Written and copyrighted by Deb (cherished79.com) April 2020.
Link,https;//www.igi-global/com/book/cases-teaching-sexuality-education-individuals/239396
i am Chapter,11
would be very interested you what you think/your views
mark
LikeLike
The link you provided sent me to an unknown page, so I went to your blog and downloaded your book. I see you put a lot of work into it, however; It was difficult to read your penmanship.
LikeLike
very touched by what you say .i am from England . we have a lot in common .i was
bullied as a child soon after i was then sexually abused .my story of abuse is in a Authors book . people never see the every day effects .. I AM CO-AUTHOR OF A BOOK ..JUST PUBLISHED .it is about ,Disability and Sex .can give you a Link
if you would like a chat any time please do .I AM HERE
my e.mail.mkentdad12@outlook.com
mark
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Mark, yes, please share your book link. I would love to read your story. Deb
LikeLike
you did very very well . it helps too have a cry and a Snotty Nose
helps me great deal
my blog.http;//mark-kent.webs.com
twitter,supersnopper
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for stopping by, Mark. I checked out your blog and read you are struggling with Aspergers and other disabling illnessnes. You are a true survivor and warrior. 🙂
LikeLike