I began to worry about how this post would be received.
I don’t want to be in receipt of a sudden surge of guilt induced sympathy and offers of help. I don’t want people to think I’m incapable of looking after my children. Or a danger to them. I don’t want people to blame my feelings upon our parenting choices, and brush off my worries as unimportant.
There is still stigma around mental health issues.
People do judge.
Loneliness is belittled as laziness. There are plenty of people out there to be friends with - what’s the problem?
Anxieties are knocked back with a brief, “Oh, you don’t need to worry about that.”
Depression is ignored because it’s too difficult to deal with, and sufferers are told to get out in the fresh air or to try this new supplement, or simply to “cheer up!”
In America, those against gun control use the argument that its people with mental health issues who are the problem.
