Recently I reread listened (thanks Jim Dale) to Harry Potter and was captivated by Dementors. Not so much as they relate to the story but as they relate to my own experience with Depression. To refresh your memory here are some quotes about Dementors from the books:

“Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they can’t see them. Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself — soul-less and evil. You’ll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life.”

Mental illness has for too long been a taboo topic, within living memory children and adults who suffered from mental illness were simply put away from society in psych wards. It is a difficult disease for people to understand, and many people show fear when confronting it. However it is also extremely common over 40 million Americans are diagnosed with a mental health disorder, most of whom are able to live full and happy lives. Getting to that point isn’t always easy, but its possible, and you don’t have to go through it alone.

Alex Decker shares his story.

Alice Patron shares her story of postpartum anxiety and the suicide of her older brother.

The current life situation we are all facing has presented many opportunities for reflection. For me, in some ways the current crisis mirrors a personal crisis I experienced almost exactly ten years ago. Ten years ago I was trapped inside my house, unable to leave my couch, but for a very different reason. I’ve been reflecting a lot on what I went through at that pivotal point in my life, and how much my life has changed since then. After much contemplation I thought I would share my memories of that time, in the hope that it may be of encouragement to those who may know of, have gone through, or are going through something similar.

Josef Miyasato shares the story of his traumatic childhood, depression and how he learned to survive.