I saw this post on facebook.....
A young woman, 26 year old Zoey Holland from Myrtle Beach, lost her fight with depression yesterday and has gone viral after posting her final goodbye message on her Facebook page.
Her post has gained over 20k shares overnight and reignited highly important conversations about mental health, checking on loved ones and knowing what signs to look for in people whom are suffering.
Depression is sadly one of the top 3 leading CODs in young adults between the ages of 15 and 30.
And while these important conversations are being had, I think there’s another aspect that’s commonly overlooked but needs to be reminded.
While it is VERY common for people suffering from depression/BDP/other mental health issues to lack support in many capacities and be brushed off/overlooked/minimized and ultimately unheard- I think it’s equally as important to remember not to speculate/generalize/judge loved ones in their time of grief bc we don’t know the lengths they went to help before this.
Not everyone who struggles with depression is alone.
And the guilt loved ones carry for feeling that they “didn’t do enough” is painful enough without the internet assuming no one was there for them.
The sad reality is you could be surrounded with love- SMOTHERED with love but depression won’t care and will still trick you into believing that you either have no one OR, even worse, that all of those people are better off without you.
Depression defies all logic.
I think we can encourage people to check on their loved ones and watch out for the signs WITHOUT jumping to assume no one was there for them.
Bc sadly that’s not always accurate.
RIP to this beautiful girl.
I hope her soul has found peace
This hit pretty close to my reality these past few years. I responded before I thought about it but, God, if people only knew the hell a family goes through if they are battling it.
If they only knew.....
Here is what I wrote. Maybe I should take it down...... I don't know. Maybe others need to see what I wrote so they don't feel all alone.
THIS.. This is what is so toxic about social media. People will run their ideas without knowning a damn thing. I have about damn near broken my mental health in the efforts of trying to save another's. Thankfully I had a day where I came to my senses and told myself.... What the hell are you doing to yourself? You still have a wife and another son to be thinking of!
You people..... You who sit behind a screen all safe in your home and anonymity..... You sure are confident when you spew your words out like vomit. Go on then. Say those same things straight to them in person. Tell them how much they didn't do. Tell them how you would have fixed it all with such simple stupid ideas that mean nothing when faced with the real reality of mental issues. Judge those people to their face.... And then look them in their eyes as the grief and life and happiness flows down their cheeks as they themselves struggle to keep their sanity together.
But they won't. What's in their heart leaves no room for compassion or empathy, or kindness.
Only false ignorant righteousness.
Cowards.
