tl:dr
trigger warnings: suicide, self harm, depression
I spent a good portion of Wednesday at the funeral of a friend, and the reception celebrating his life. He is mourned by hundreds, at the very least. He loved, and was loved, by so very many people. But like many of us, he was tortured by the dark corners of his mind.
I’ve had a few major depressive experiences - episodes makes it sound quick or trivial. These experiences can last weeks, if not more. During those times I've felt invisible, unseen, unheard - but my worst was far darker.
I type about this now - and speak about it whenever I can - because I’ve been there before. Planning that moment, literally writing notes. I was so very full of pain that I couldn’t see straight. This was 20 years ago, next month, but I can feel it like it was yesterday. I only stopped writing notes - and not taking action - because of a geographical/semantical moment - it had to be correct, right? After all, this was going to be the last thing they read from me, it wouldn't do for it to be incorrect. I figured the pain wasn't going anywhere, it would still be there the next day. I could have a plan for the next night. I was lucky, or blessed, pick your choice - but I woke up the next morning and felt an ability to at least deal with the next day. It changed my world.
The thing is, what I realized even in those several hours of writing letters, was that even in the pain I felt at that moment - the culmination of all that time - I *knew* that my suicide would devastate my family and friends. I knew they would be tortured by questions that couldn’t be answered. But the explanation - my explanation - is that I knew it would devastate them, but that my pain was so enveloping, so consuming, so overwhelming, that I could only try to end the pain. Their pain would be tremendous, and I was genuinely sorry for that, but I couldn’t handle another moment of that all consuming, horrendous, pain.
Today we said goodbye to a friend who wasn’t able to turn that corner, to see that light. But, like our pastor, I believe he is warm and welcome in the afterlife, safe in a sanctuary of love. He has been released from a life of pain, and has been welcomed home.
I don't particularly like sharing this story, from the standpoint of then people start worrying about me, now. I do appreciate the support and care, but this isn't really about me. It's about helping people who don't have depression, or who haven't been suicidal, to understand why a person might commit suicide. It's about so many people not knowing that that we know we are loved, but that sometimes the pain is overwhelming.
And it's also about showing people who are in that dark place that it *is* possible to turn that corner with very little to explain it. That there are so many people out here who are struggling. That it's possible to come out the other side. I so wish I could spread that message to every corner of the earth. To say, "You matter. You are not alone. I might not understand your pain, but I can empathize and give you comfort. I will sit by you in the darkness. Every time during the day that I think of you, I'm sending you the peace in my heart and soul, to take a little of your agony away."
It is so important that we talk about mental health openly. Understanding how easy it is to be caught in that downward spiral for some people is crucial, so that we can empathize and come to them with a measure of grace and peace.