Eye Opening: Could You Have Been Ignoring These Seemingly Minor Signs Of Depression?

Recently, the word ‘Depression’, its effect on people, and how to detect and manage it has been the subject of discussion on many platforms. This is coming on the heels of several news of suicide committed especially by people whom one would never had thought could be capable of such.

To this end, many people have been speaking about ‘Depression’ and encouraging those in depression or who thinks they may need help in one way or the other to speak out and get helped.

A young mom’s candid message on her Facebook page tells about sometimes ignored signs/symptoms of anxiety and depression.

After weeks of struggling to do the dishes, 25-year-old Brittany Ernsperger shares a heartfelt message about living with depression and anxiety, and this went viral inspiring thousands of people to her surprise.

The young mom posted a photo of a large pile of clean dishes and shared it on Facebook saying for two weeks, her depression and anxiety were so overwhelming she couldn’t do her dishes.

The messy kitchen made her feel like a failure, which made finishing the dishes even more challenging. According to her, the inability to do daily chores is a sign of depression; it’s just not as well known as others.

Brittany writes:

”This is what depression looks like.

No. Not the clean dishes. But that there were that many dishes in the first place; that I’ve gone 2 weeks without doing them.

3 days ago I sat on the kitchen floor and stared at them while I cried. I knew they needed to be done. I wanted to do them so bad. But depression pulled me under. It sucked me in. Like a black hole. Rapidly, sinking quick-sand.

I walked by them morning and night and all day long. And just looked at them. Telling myself that I could do them. Telling myself that I would. And feeling defeated everyday that I didn’t. Making the depression only that much worse because not accomplishing something that needs to be done is failure.

Worthless. Failure. Piece of shit. Incompetent. Stupid. Lazy. All things that roll through the mind of someone with depression. All. Day. Long.

Throw anxiety on top of it, and you’ve got yourself a real treat. Being scared your husband will leave because he thinks you’re lazy. Being scared to let people into your home because they’ll think you’re nasty.

Feeling like you’re failing your kids because for the 3rd night in a row, you don’t have any clean dishes to cook dinner on… so pizza it is. Again.

And the worst part of it all, it’s not just with the dishes. The laundry, cleaning, dressing yourself, taking a shower, dressing your kids, brushing your teeth and their teeth, normal everyday tasks. It all becomes a nightmare. A very daunting task. Some days it doesn’t get done at all.

Depression is something that “strong” people don’t talk about because they don’t want people to think they’re “weak”.

You’re not weak. You’ve been strong for so long and through so many things, that your body needs a break. I don’t even care if the only thing you did today, was put deodorant on. I’m proud of you for it. Good job. I’m in your corner. I’m on your side.

I’m not looking for sympathy, not in the slightest. But I am letting everyone know that I’m here for you. I get it. If you need someone to talk to, I’m always here to help.

**Edited Post**
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I wasn’t expecting this to get as much love as it has gotten.

Ladies, if you’re feeling this way, send me a friend request. I’ll do my best to help you or get you the help you need. We’ll figure it out together. We can only help one another by lifting each other up. I’m here for you. .”

Brittany’s candid description of what living with depression could look like resonated with thousands of people, who shared her post and tagged their friends and family members in the comment section.

“It is so beautifully honest,” Dr. Ken Duckworth, who is the medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, told TODAY.

“She puts it all right out there … and I think that is really compelling.”

The Mental health experts also addressed others who might be suffering and offered some words of encouragement.

“Depression is something that ‘strong’ people don’t talk about because they don’t want people to think they’re ‘weak,’” she wrote.

“You’re not weak. You’ve been strong for so long and through so many things, that your body needs a break.I don’t even care if the only thing you did today, was put deodorant on. I’m proud of you for it. Good job.”

Photo credit: Facebook