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Even in 2017, there is still a lot that people don’t understand about mental illness. Perhaps it’s because there doesn’t usually appear to be anything outwardly “wrong” with the person suffering, or maybe if you’ve never known someone who has personally struggled with something like anxiety, depression, or PTSD. However, the chances of at least one person you know having a mental illness of some kind are pretty high. In fact, 350 million people worldwide suffer from depression, making it an extremely common condition.
Even though someone who is battling depression may not “look” sick, even the simplest acts can be extremely challenging. Katelyn Marie Todd knows all about the daily struggles that come with living with a mental illness. Even as something as seemingly mundane and easy as brushing your hair was a difficult task for Katelyn, and she decided to share her honest and heartbreaking story on her Facebook page.
“I brushed my hair today. For the first time in 4 weeks. It was matted and twisted together. It snapped and tore with every stroke. I cried while I washed and conditioned it, because I forgot how it felt to run my fingers through it.” For most of us, brushing our hair can be a chore, but it’s definitely not something we struggle with, or can’t even bring ourselves to do; but for Katelyn, she had trouble getting out of bed, brushing her hair, her teeth, and even doing laundry.
“I brushed my teeth, too, for the first time in a week. My gums bled. My water ran red. I cried over that, as well. When I got out of the shower, I couldn't stop sniffing my hair and arms. I've avoided hugging people for a while, because I never smell good. I always smell like I've been on bedrest for a week. I have no clean clothes, because I'm too tired and sad to wash them.”
Katelyn explains that her depression causes her to struggle with what we may view as easy, or even boring tasks. She says that the truth behind depression is that it “isn’t beautiful” and often comes with “poor hygiene”.
She also points how hard it is to keep friends and family close while battling depression, and how lonely and isolating the illness can be. “Depression is having 3 friends that are only still around because they have the patience and love of a saint...Depression is making your family cry because they think you don't love them anymore when you're distant and distracted. Depression is somatic as well as emotional, an emptiness you can physically feel.”
Katelyn shared this brutally honest post to remind and encourage people to understand what others may be going through, and how truly difficult battling depression can be. She wants those who don’t suffer from the condition to understand that it is an uphill struggle, and that those who have to live with depression every day are “trying”.
“Please be easy on your friends and family that have trouble getting up the energy to clean, hang out, or take care of themselves. And please, please take them seriously if they talk to you about it. We're trying. I swear we're trying. See? I brushed my hair today.”
What do you think about Katelyn’s post about depression?
