I'm incredibly sorry and remorseful that this happened, Xydane. My heart goes out to you and your friends.
I find that I can relate to this at an uncomfortable level, so it can be challenging to for me to speak up about this subject without being anxious.
For one, I deeply appreciate that Xydane would be considerate enough to reach out to this community after experiencing a sudden loss in another one. It's a kind act to offer information and assistance to people who might be struggling in silence or behind the facade curtain.
I myself have had battle after battle over the years with depression. I've also had anxiety issues creep up as I've gotten older. Not social anxiety, but anxiety over other things. Depression and anxiety are a deadly cocktail, and do not mix well at all. Add low self esteem and you've hit the trifecta.
Depression is not having a bad day/week/month. Depression is not having a good cry. It's different from being sad. Depression is a state of mind. It's a way of thinking that can be irrational and distorted. It's a toxic way of looking at yourself, those around you, and the situation you are in.
Depression is a lot like an unwilling addiction. Once you slip into that way of thinking, it can be very hard to break away from it. You can certainly want/desire to think differently, and want to change for the better. But it's not an overnight thing. Like breaking any other addiction, it takes a lot of hard work, patience, and support. There's also the relapses. You can look at yourself and tell yourself 'What are you doing?', but even with your mind asking you that question, you still 'do', because you can't find any other way to function.
It's gotten to me more often nowadays because I have just graduated college. So I would like to add a link or two about the issues effecting people in my position right now. This is purely something I would like to throw out there as well, and hopefully anyone going through it too can benefit from it.
[This is a link about something called Post-Graduate Depression]
[This is a link about wondering why it is not really talked about that often.]
[11 Ways to Avoid Post College Depression]
Remember: There are those that are open about their suffering, and those that are not. The reasons can range from being afraid of criticism and rejection, to anxiety, to stubbornness in admitting weakness when they believe it to be a weak trait, to just being shameful of it. Sometimes we have no idea of their suffering until it's too late to help just like in Xydane's case.
If any of you see any sort of sign that something is not well with somebody in your family, in your friends, in this community, anywhere... then reach out to them. Let them know you care. Let them know. Offer an ear to listen, if anything. We're all human, and none of us are perfect and we all have our own personal struggles and some are doing better than others at fighting it.
I don't know how to end this, so, I'll do it by quoting Xidane here.
PS: I'd also love to recommend the 'Chicken Soup for the' series of books for anyone that wants to read something that may help him get through hard times. It isn't just for teenagers. There are Chicken Soups books out there for all ages and backgrounds, such as parents, teachers, being at work/college/school etc.
Here is a list of them.
I find that I can relate to this at an uncomfortable level, so it can be challenging to for me to speak up about this subject without being anxious.
For one, I deeply appreciate that Xydane would be considerate enough to reach out to this community after experiencing a sudden loss in another one. It's a kind act to offer information and assistance to people who might be struggling in silence or behind the facade curtain.
I myself have had battle after battle over the years with depression. I've also had anxiety issues creep up as I've gotten older. Not social anxiety, but anxiety over other things. Depression and anxiety are a deadly cocktail, and do not mix well at all. Add low self esteem and you've hit the trifecta.
Depression is not having a bad day/week/month. Depression is not having a good cry. It's different from being sad. Depression is a state of mind. It's a way of thinking that can be irrational and distorted. It's a toxic way of looking at yourself, those around you, and the situation you are in.
Depression is a lot like an unwilling addiction. Once you slip into that way of thinking, it can be very hard to break away from it. You can certainly want/desire to think differently, and want to change for the better. But it's not an overnight thing. Like breaking any other addiction, it takes a lot of hard work, patience, and support. There's also the relapses. You can look at yourself and tell yourself 'What are you doing?', but even with your mind asking you that question, you still 'do', because you can't find any other way to function.
It's gotten to me more often nowadays because I have just graduated college. So I would like to add a link or two about the issues effecting people in my position right now. This is purely something I would like to throw out there as well, and hopefully anyone going through it too can benefit from it.
[This is a link about something called Post-Graduate Depression]
[This is a link about wondering why it is not really talked about that often.]
[11 Ways to Avoid Post College Depression]
Remember: There are those that are open about their suffering, and those that are not. The reasons can range from being afraid of criticism and rejection, to anxiety, to stubbornness in admitting weakness when they believe it to be a weak trait, to just being shameful of it. Sometimes we have no idea of their suffering until it's too late to help just like in Xydane's case.
If any of you see any sort of sign that something is not well with somebody in your family, in your friends, in this community, anywhere... then reach out to them. Let them know you care. Let them know. Offer an ear to listen, if anything. We're all human, and none of us are perfect and we all have our own personal struggles and some are doing better than others at fighting it.
I don't know how to end this, so, I'll do it by quoting Xidane here.
(09-25-2015, 12:33 AM)Xydane Wrote: This is something constantly preached in my workplace and organization and I will continue to do my duty to remind everyone as well. I always preach family in every community and organization whether it's a guild in a video game or at a work place and it is up to us to look out for one another.
PS: I'd also love to recommend the 'Chicken Soup for the' series of books for anyone that wants to read something that may help him get through hard times. It isn't just for teenagers. There are Chicken Soups books out there for all ages and backgrounds, such as parents, teachers, being at work/college/school etc.
Here is a list of them.
![[Image: 8wQ4Jkf.png?2]](http://i.imgur.com/8wQ4Jkf.png?2)
![[Image: orVQTe3.png?1]](http://i.imgur.com/orVQTe3.png?1)
