WHEN GRAY SURROUNDS A WEARY HEART
Tired despite hours of sleep, my head sinks into the pillow
Morning’s light gives no warmth or peace with its rays
Only clouds of pointless dust in an indifferent world
Rising is pointless when you’re numb to everything
Except the smothering weight that presses down
To choke what little light remains
Nothing can pierce the shroud
No reason to continue
To struggle forward
To breathe
Live
A touch
Warm and furry
persistent in its desire
Wakes me from the dark
Pulls me back into the light
To struggle onward out of the gray
Depression; unhappiness; despair; sadness; downheartedness; misery; hopelessness; melancholy; dejection; gloominess; despondency; gloom; cheerlessness; joylessness; glumness; – They all mean the same thing.
More than 15 million people in the United States have been diagnosed with depression. Because of social stigma, many do not seek treatment or won’t admit they have a problem. Depression is more than feeling a little sad. It’s an all over gray feeling that won’t go away. Have you ever started crying for no apparent reason and couldn’t stop? Depression sucks the joy out of everything, but it doesn’t need to. The hardest thing is admitting to yourself that you are depressed. Talk to someone, I did and it made a world of difference. I resisted for a long time. I wish I hadn’t. If one form of treatment doesn’t help, try another. Remember, you are not alone. Keep holding onto the light.
About the campaign:
#HoldOnToTheLight is a blog campaign encompassing blog posts by fantasy and science fiction authors around the world in an effort to raise awareness around treatment for depression, suicide prevention, domestic violence intervention, PTSD initiatives, bullying prevention and other mental health-related issues. We believe fandom should be supportive, welcoming and inclusive, in the long tradition of fandom taking care of its own. We encourage readers and fans to seek the help they or their loved ones need without shame or embarrassment.
Please consider donating to or volunteering for organizations dedicated to treatment and prevention such as: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Hope for the Warriors (PTSD), National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), Canadian Mental Health Association, MIND (UK), SANE (UK), BeyondBlue (Australia), To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) and the National Suicide Prevention Hotline.
To find out more about #HoldOnToTheLight, find a list of participating authors and blog posts, or reach a media contact, go to http://www.HoldOnToTheLight.com and join us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/WeHoldOnToTheLight
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