This candle is a metaphor for my youth.

September 28, 2015 10:57 AM

There is plenty of space in the cultural conversation for stories about what it was like to have been depressed, but there isn’t much space or tolerance for narrating the experience in live time. That behavior, especially online, is called attention-seeking, or oversharing, or desperation. The sole exception to this rule is the cry for help, but the depressed person who isn’t sure which help to cry for is given little clearance to talk at all.

--Depressiongrams: A Photo Essay
posted by almostmanda (6 comments total)

There is plenty of space in the cultural conversation for stories about what it was like to have been depressed, but there isn’t much space or tolerance for narrating the experience in live time.

"That bit in your admissions essay about your lifelong struggle with mental illness was so inspiring, but do you think you could put that whole thing on hold while you're here? Your academic performance is not meeting our expectations."
posted by Anonymous at 11:15 AM on September 28, 2015

I think the biggest reason there's not a lot of depression diaries out there is that depression kills productivity like nothing else. A diary is a work of dedication. It requires regular work and attention. The only thing I wanted to do while depressed was nothing. So much nothing. And I didn't want to talk about it either. So I'm impressed that this photo-essayist had both the energy and the inclination to document her struggle.
posted by wabbittwax at 2:35 PM on September 28, 2015 [14 favorites]

I wish we had a "Favorite a bajillion times" button for your post, wabbittwax.
posted by Thorzdad at 2:40 PM on September 28, 2015 [3 favorites]

I like the photoessay and this FPP. Anything that can simply reassure the sufferer, even for a minute, that they're not alone can be a lifesaver. See also: Paul Gilmartin's podcast Mental Illness Happy Hour.
posted by Sheydem-tants at 2:49 PM on September 28, 2015

This felt real in a way a lot of stuff about depression doesn't, probably because of all the images that are the subject of her story. Thanks for sharing this.
posted by salvia at 5:56 PM on September 28, 2015 [1 favorite]

The #unemployed selfie really did it for me. Maybe if I do a series of those someone will take pity on me and offer me a job, one I'd probably be too depressed to show up for after about a week.
posted by dis_integration at 7:48 AM on September 29, 2015