Don’t give up

As someone who knows about depression, I feel so much sadness over Robin Williams’s death. Depression is an illness, and it’s ugly, and it kills. The fact that it could destroy someone so talented, accomplished, and loved really demonstrates how powerful this condition is.

Depression can be a horrible, ongoing struggle, but don’t let it win. You’re important. You matter. And you can beat the monster.

If you need a lifeline, please talk to somebody. Here are some groups just waiting to help:

IMAlive, An Online Crisis Network
https://www.imalive.org/

Other crisis networks (list courtesy of Calming Brits & Irishmen)

USA and Canada
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

Canada for those under twenty years of age.
http://org.kidshelpphone.ca/en

UK and Ireland
http://www.samaritans.org/

Australia
https://www.lifeline.org.au/

And many more….
http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html

The frogurt is also cursed

The past few weeks, my life has felt a lot like my favorite scene from The Simpsons:

I’d make progress, then something bad would happen. I’d get a good surprise, then a bad one. It’s exhausting.

Last week’s surprise was a very, very bad one. It’s entirely possible that the situation will resolve itself with no lasting damage, but there’s work to be done to fix the issue, and then it will be a few weeks before we know the outcome. And in the meantime, it’s weighing on my mind and leaving me somewhat frazzled and depressed.

If you have a good thought to spare, send it my way. Because where can you turn when even the frogurt is cursed?

Sometimes you need a love poem

needleSo, a relatively new health issue reared its ugly head last week. I’m doing better now (and it’s nothing life-threatening, despite the doctor raising the specter of the C word), but I can’t help but feel discouraged right now. The testing cost a generous sum that came straight out of my savings, which is part of why I’m so glum. (I don’t want to quote figures, but it was enough for an extremely nice vacation, if that gives you an idea.) I know I should be glad that I had savings to pay for it, but when I think about how hard I work and how careful I am with my money, it really upsets me. If I wanted to spend that much money, I can think of quite a few ways to do it that would have been more satisfying than having an unpleasant medical exam.

Anyway. One of my writer friends sent me this Tom Hiddleston video today. It helps a little.

Off the rails

I guess I jinxed myself with my earlier post, because all my progress has ground to a halt… stupid health issues have left me tired and discouraged. I think about my stories, but can’t quite bring myself to work on them.

I’m currently re-reading the Harry Potter books in an effort to feel better. I’m nearly through the second one; it seems to help.