Depression affects millions of people worldwide, but many people who are experiencing the symptoms feel completely alone.
Often, people feel like they can't reach out for help because they worry that others will judge them. Other times, people don't understand that what they're experiencing is actually depression.
Milly Smith has battled depression for a long time, and she knows just how serious it can be.
She's not only a mental health warrior, she's also a mom of a sweet little boy named Eli.
Milly is very active on Instagram, where she encourages others to love their bodies, embrace their struggles, and fight the stigma of mental and chronic illness.
One of the things Milly tries to do a lot through her posts is raise awareness about the issues she struggles with. And she wants everyone to know that it's impossible for anyone to know what depression "looks like."
[H/T: Bored Panda]
Milly, who describes herself as a "Body/self lovin' bad a** momma," wants to make people more aware of mental illnesses and chronic illnesses, and the way they affect everyday life.
Some of her most powerful posts compare what people think depression "looks like" and how it actually looks.
With this photo, Milly wrote:
Depression doesn’t have a ‘LOOK’
I can stand up, have a bomb a** day and still be suicidal.
Depression is cruel and unforgiving, sometimes the day I ‘look’ the least depressed I’m suffering the hardest.There's a stigma of having to look fragile, broken, make up running, bottle of vodka and a suicide note in your hand to be worthy of help/attention for your pain.
Depression is cowering away in bed.
Depression is also faking a smile in public.
Depression is sometimes being exhausted getting out of bed.
Depression is also excessive bursts of energy to try and distract yourself.
Depression is crying, self loathing and dread.
Depression is also laughing and trying to fit in.
Depression is dark black and cold.
Depression is also leading a ‘normal’ life and appearing ‘functioning’
Depression is agony.
Depression is also a friend, a comfort.Don't judge.
You never know what someone is going through behind a smile or a laugh.
Be gentle.
You've no idea how much a kind word could mean to someone.
Depression doesn't have a 'face', stop the stigma.
With this photo, Milly wrote:
TW: talk of suicidal tendencies.
"You don't look suicidal"… I remember these words coming from the Dr's mouth right after I'd just told him that I was having thoughts of suicide.
I remember in that moment my 14 year old self felt invalidation, dumb and embarrassed; something no one in that mindset should have to feel.
I left feeling confused, what was I supposed to look like? A bottle of pills in one hand and a suicide note in the other? Those words nearly cost me my life, that judgment, those stupid stupid words.I remember the night just last year that I spiralled and overdosed in my living room. I remember thinking to myself "I can't get help, I don't look suicidal, I don't fit the bill, they'll laugh at me."
I remember thinking I must have looked the part, must have been wearing the suicidal costume properly when I woke up in Resus as all around me were concerned, worried and sad faces.
By then this could have been too late, I might not have been there to see those sad faces if my partner hadn’t of saved my life.This, this is the danger of thinking mental health has a 'face', a 'look'. This is how stigma, ignorance and judgement towards mental health/suicide affects those who are poorly.
In both these photos I'm suicidal, perhaps not in the same way but on both of these days I had suicidal thoughts racing around.
Stop the judgment.
Stop the stigma.
In the caption for this photo, Milly explained:
Depression doesn’t have a face.
You can’t look at someone online or in person and grade their depression.
Depression twists, grows and turns.Some days I do my make up, I smile, I leave the house and have coffee, take cute insta snaps of Eli.
Somedays I lay on the bathroom floor screaming "please" in a desperate will for the pain to end.Somedays I can talk to friends online for hours, help them, chat about crap with ease.
Other times I avoid messenger like the plague, I leave messages for weeks, months or forever and think about shutting myself off from everyone before they have a chance to shut off from me.
Some days I dance in my pants around the house, cleaning everywhere and laughing with Eli and Rishi.
Somedays Rishi takes unpaid time off work to care for me, keep me safe and lay with me whilst I stay in bed motionless and afraid.Depression doesn't have a face
Depression can't be measured.
If someone is struggling, they are struggling.You can function with depression, some days you wouldn't tell, other days it's like what you see in the movies.
Be kind
Mental illness, depression, and suicide can be scary topics, but we need to talk about them to be able to make any progress.
Milly knows that it's necessary for everyone with mental illness to know that they can talk to people when they're struggling.
If you think we all need to work to get rid of the stigma of mental illness, please SHARE this article!
