This isn’t going to be your typical wrestling article from me. This is going to be one that hits home for literally tens of millions worldwide and has very likely impacted everyone alive today in some way. I want to take a moment to speak about depression and suicide. The reason I would like to take this moment is to be real and open as we are in the Christmas Season.
I am writing this as someone that has depression. I refuse to say that I suffer from depression, because that would be misleading as to imply that depression has control of my life. This is simply not true for me. For others, it may very well be true. I sought the resources needed to get mine under control. Since November 1st, 2019, I have been completely alcohol free following an instance of getting drunk, which led to an episode of rage and depression. This nearly led to my marriage of over 12 years ending. At that moment, I decided to never touch a bottle of alcohol again.
The reason I bring that up is that alcohol has been linked to both reversing effects of depression medication and leading to more suicidal and depressed thoughts. For me, this was very true, and even though the signs were there, I was in denial and didn’t want to admit I needed to stop. If you have depression, you need to think about drinking and either stop or drink in very slim moderation. For me, this was very easy. I simply made the mental choice to stop and haven’t craved, or even wanted a drink since that night. For others, it’s not as simple and they may need help and support.
As we go into the height of the Christmas Season, while it’s not true that suicide rates increase during this time of the year, the depression rate does. This eventually leads to a spike in suicides around March as the pain begins to grow out of control. If you are someone that notices signs of depression in either yourself or someone else, please either seek help or offer help. For many, the signs are not obvious, especially at the onset of depression. Some of the signs can include not wanting to follow their typical routine, wanting to sleep all day, not being as active, and/or not being as verbal or complacent when trying to engage in conversation.
At the bottom of this article, I will be including links to resources that can help you or that person. But the most important thing to know is that if you are that person, you are not alone in this fight! As stated earlier, there are literally tens of millions that are just like us! Know that there is support and help out there! Seek out those that you know that may have depression as well and see how they overcame it. If you don’t have family to reach out to, seek help at a local clinic or hospital. Start doing things that interest you or volunteer at local places to break the routine.
If you are the person that sees the signs of depression in someone, reach out to them and offer your support. One of the things that can often help someone with depression is just knowing that they are loved, wanted, and appreciated by others. Offer to go over to their place or bring them over to yours. You could go out to movies and/or dinner to help that person break the routine of loneliness. But most importantly, please see that they get the help they need! Depression typically doesn’t just go away, but needs outside help, sometimes in the form of medication.
I have gone on for much longer than I expected for this article. With that said, I ask that you pay attention to those around you. Befriend someone that has no one else. Know someone that’s homeless? Offer to take them out to lunch or dinner or provide a warm bed for even just one night. There are people that need help and YOU can be the one that gets them on the right track!
National Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration:
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Helpline:
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Text: HELLO to 741741
Online Chat Available
GLBT Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
UK/Ireland: 24/7 Helpline: 116 123
Canada: Crisis Services Canada: 1-888-353-2273
India: SNEHA India: 91 44 24640050
The following is a poem I wrote earlier this year to give an inside look and feeling of how someone with depression may be feeling:
Mind of the Depressed
Written by Jason Barlow on 5/15/2019
What the fuck is wrong with me?
Who is this God that supposedly loves me?
All I want to see, is who I’m supposed to be
And the ability to live my life happy and free
All my life has been lived in these shackles and chains
Growing up was full of nothing but pains
Sometimes I wonder if I’d be better off as blood stains
Than to live this life without any gains
My entire life has been one big mess
And here I thought I was to be blessed
I just want a release from all this stress
And begin again with a new blank canvas
I turned to drinking and smoking all the time
In order to fill this empty void I feel inside
I just want to turn from this tide
And have a brand new mind for this life’s ride
When I’m down, I feel at my worst
As if my whole life has been cursed
I just want this depression bubble to burst
And to live my life without this damn curse
I have tried ending it all with pills, knives, and cutting
All because I feel that I am nothing
I want my entire life to mean something
And once and for all to say goodbye to depression
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