Telling people you’re facing depression can be very tricky - but it’s worth it.

We dont offer miracle cures, just a few thoughts that will hopefully be useful to a few people.

Youll grow out of it.

Pull your socks up.

These are all phrases which have undoubtedly been heard by every one of us at one point or another.

For some it was about their hairstyle, for some their sexuality, for some their body image.

It was barely ever about loosely fitting footwear.

Strictly speaking, Ive got a chemical imbalance in my brain to be depressed about.

Teenage angst is a misnomer.

Of course, this only happens in movies.

In reality everyone struggles, everyone has doubts and everyone has regrets.

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But for some, such struggles, doubts and regrets are insurmountable.

Anyone who gets past that age is fine, right?

The heartbreak doesnt really need to be embellished upon.

These lyrics were his drafted suicide notes, his cries for help and his communication with people who care.

And what did I do?

I bought the t-shirt, I sang along and I switched off when he got too commercial.

Its because I expected him to have his shit together.

It goes without saying that Chris Cornell is one of millions.

The difference between these cases?

Sinead came out about her depression.

Not writing lyrics, poetry and journals out.

So did I. Im 38.

Well, Top 10 at least.

I procrastinated for weeks about what to say and why I was saying it.

I told my parents over the phone and I asked work to spread the word.

But I needed people to know.

As much as I love my friends and family, why should I be someone else around them?

Why should I pretend to have grown out of it?

Why make excuses for my behaviour when there is a genuine excuse for the way that Im acting?

I needed to lose that weight.

Now its all on the table and I wish Id done it earlier.

The people who care are there for me should I need them.

The people who never cared for me steer well clear.

As Sinead OConnor said, there are millions of us.

Were in your office, were on your bus and we live on your estate.

And if we seem a little strange, well thats because we are.

We may seem like weve got it together, sometimes we have.

Other times were barely clinging on.

We keep an eye out for each other and we look for warning signs.

Sounds nice doesnt it?

What are you waiting for?

Thanks, as always, for reading…