#81 - "I'm Depressed"

Today’s words: Farm, Crisps, Garden, Noun

Word count: 373

Completion time: 1 hour 1 minute

Summary: a lot of people trivialize mental illness, especially ‘popular’ ones like depression and social anxiety, so this goes out to people who are sick of people claiming to be sick when they’re clearly just having normal reactions to everyday situations

--

“I have depression,” you say, finishing your crisps as you look me in the eye

It’s no surprise, right? You’ve not smiled once since sunrise.

“Why do you think that?”

“I’m really sad.”

Okay, that’s a fact...

I won’t deny that you’re sad, that much is true

But that’s because Drew broke up with you...

Your last date was at a farm, a small place outside of town

And when the day was done, the relationship was too

You cried

Of course you did

You cried like you’d forgotten how to laugh and

Fell onto the path, asking him ‘why’

He said your name like a common noun and stated

“We’re just too different, we never should have dated.”

And just like that, you guys were separated

“I might go to the doctor; I think I’m a hazard to myself.”

It’s nice that you’re looking out for your health

But being sad after a traumatic experience

Is nothing that serious

“Give it a few days, I’m sure you’ll be fine.”

“No, I’m pretty sure I have it: I’ve read about it.”

You know when people sneeze and think they have the flu?

That’s what this is. It’s a normal reaction, I’m telling you!

I’d be concerned if you weren’t feeling blue!

“Look, I know you’re a mess, and I get that, I do

“But claiming it’s a mental illness? That’s really not cool.”

“I didn’t eat for half a day yesterday, what does that tell you?”

“That you lost your appetite (you fool)!”

Throw me the tastiest line, I still won’t bite

It’s been two nights since he dumped you

Don’t trivialize a mental issue whenever it suits you

Like the latest fashion trend that you’ll spend

Hundreds on just to look cool in front of friends

I have this and I have that

You say it like you want to be depressed

Like you want to spend days in bed, missing work

Realising that life has lots its perks

Like you want to feel a relentless darkness

That lasts for days and days

Like a permanent eclipse

Why would you want that?

Who would ever wish for that?

Why can’t you see that your ‘depression’

Is a just normal kind of ‘sad’?