Thread by @MikeStuchbery_

Folks tell me it has helped when I've talked about it, so here goes - as many of you know I've struggled with depression & anxiety for 20 years.

In that time, I've had many myths busted about those two buggers. Here's the top 5... 1/ #WorldSuicidePreventionDay

5. 'You need to be stuck in bed all day to *really* have depression.'

Don't get me wrong - some can really be affected that way. However, you can be severely depressed & very much upright.

I went through a number of jobs, very ill & wondering why I couldn't perform - Duh! 2/

I figured that because I could get out of bed and front up to work, I wasn't Ill.

Never mind that my illness was seriously fatigued, that it was impacting my communication skills - I could barely look people in the eye!

4. 'It's only severe depression/anxiety if it's affecting you all day, every day'.

Severe anxiety and depression has its bumps and troughs - some days you can feel relatively normal.

One thing I also came to understand is that the 'normal' I was feeling was anything but. 3/

It was only when I started talking therapy and CBT that what I considered 'normal' was pretty warped - a joyless, moribund existence, as opposed to something actively terrifying and painful.

When you're severely depressed and anxious, you have no real yardstick for 'OK'. 4/

3. 'You got into severe depression or anxiety by yourself, you can get yourself out'.

Would you say the same for a virus, or cancer? Do you think you could fix it?

Depression & anxiety can have bio-chemical triggers that positive thinking *cannot* fix - they did for me. /5

As I said, depression and anxiety can often skew or distort your thought processes - what you might think is a logical course of action can actually be pretty harmful - eg. 'Im fat & ugly - stop eating lunch!'

My brain also shut down many *actual* options as 'too much work'. /6

2. 'Medication or therapy will take something away from you'.

There's this idea that I clung to for the longest time that 'depressed me' was the *real* me - that the strength of emotion that I was feeling was integral to my character.

Yeah, balls. /7

Sure, I was 'me', but in the depths of anxiety and depression, I was a distorted and strung-out version of who I now I am.

Talking and trying different medications until I got it right, as well as the right counsellor, helped me work out who I am. /8

1. 'If you're depressed & anxious, you've brought it on yourself'.

I think that this one is especially prevalent in men and young people.

I thought that my illness was something I'd fully brought about by my own choice - that in a way, I deserved what I was suffering. /9

That's the nature of the illnesses themselves - to convince you that you are a bad, or lacking individual.

Who was I kidding - am I a doctor?

There are many, many factors that work in tandem to cause severe depression and anxiety! /10

Sure, there are things you can do to minimize your risk of suffering depression, but even the most vigilant among us can be struck down.

Your depression or your anxiety is *not* your fault!

You do, however, have a choice about taking the first step. /11

I've come a very long way since I first experienced depression and anxiety, and much of what I thought I knew turned out to be total bunkum.

It isn't easy, and I still struggle, but these days I'm bloody glad to be alive, and I know there is plenty of light in the darkness. /12

I know there's plenty of my followers who struggle with depression and anxiety, & I hope this thread helped.

If I can do anything more - elaborate on a point, or lend an ear - just ask. Happy to help.

You are worth it, and there is a way out. /Fin #WorldSuicidePreventionDay