My name is Wil Wheaton. I live with chronic Depression, and I am not ashamed.
If you’re a geek like me you’ll know Wil Wheaton from his days as Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation. If you’re younger you’ll know him for his recurring role on Big Bang Theory. I happened upon one of his recent posts where he opens up about his live with chronic depression. It’s a frank and honest assessment and I appreciated how candid Wheaton was with recognizing the struggle many people face in seeking help.
We are living in an interesting time. Depression has long been stigmatized as something that people dealt with behind closed doors and were ashamed of. In some ways we’ve moved away from that to understanding that depression is a major plight facing much more of the population than people really realized. At the same time however I do fear that on one level there’s a degree of romanticizing that has come from it as well. For some there’s a fine line between true clinical depression and people who are seeking attention under the guise of seeking help for mental health. Celebrities and other people of note coming out about their battles with mental illness however stands to me as more positive than negative. Personally my own reasons for blogging are certainly not for fame or attention. When I had to make my first call to a therapist it was in the midst of a downward spiral which started with undiagnosed depression and eventually lead to divorce. I wouldn’t wish that double-slap in the face on anyone and I want others to know that there are resources out there. I’ll never say there’s a cure, you won’t hear me saying it’s ‘easy’ to deal with. Everyone’s battle with depression, anxiety or other mental illness is distinct and varied.
Should you have happened upon my blog or are reading other posts from WordPress bloggers or celebrities trying to shine a light on the issues of mental health, take it with a grain of salt. Reflect upon yourself, don’t get stuck ruminating. If you suspect you might be suffering, seek help, even if the steps start small, they are important.