One thing I had to tell someone recently is that their depression doesn't define them. They made the point that they are a different person when they are on or off antidepressants. I just don't think that's true. I am working under extreme stress and lack of sleep most of the time and it makes me irritable, moody, pessimistic and on the edge of breaking down at times. I am like this because the burden of not having enough sleep and of the stress is too much for me to carry on top of other things. You would never judge a person's stamina whilst forcing them to carry a lead-loaded backpack, and you would never test their strength right after a heavy workout. Who you are when you are carrying a burden is who you have always been, you just have less resources to handle everything else.
So what if you are slowed down, so what if you are miserable, or volatile. These things aren't who you are, they are the result of carrying a heavy burden. Who you truly are is the person you are when the burden is lifted, just as your peak stamina is what you achieve without carrying lead weights on your back. You aren't weak, you are weighed down. You aren't slow, you are exhausted from already doing so much. You aren't touchy, you're just tender after taking a beating all day. The only takeaway about your character is that you are someone who has carried and endured that burden but not let it stop you.
In a way, I think being an adult is having burdens to carry and learning how to counter, limit or in some cases just live with them, but not let them define who you are. I am burned out, exhausted, I have to job hunt and move home, and I think my depression is finally coming back (albeit temporarily due to all the burdens I carry). This inhibits who I am. It slows me down, makes me grouchy and tired and miserable, but its not me, its just me carrying a heavy weight. Rather than use it as an excuse or hate myself, I can be proud that I am still moving forward despite that weight, and so can you.
So what if you are slowed down, so what if you are miserable, or volatile. These things aren't who you are, they are the result of carrying a heavy burden. Who you truly are is the person you are when the burden is lifted, just as your peak stamina is what you achieve without carrying lead weights on your back. You aren't weak, you are weighed down. You aren't slow, you are exhausted from already doing so much. You aren't touchy, you're just tender after taking a beating all day. The only takeaway about your character is that you are someone who has carried and endured that burden but not let it stop you.
In a way, I think being an adult is having burdens to carry and learning how to counter, limit or in some cases just live with them, but not let them define who you are. I am burned out, exhausted, I have to job hunt and move home, and I think my depression is finally coming back (albeit temporarily due to all the burdens I carry). This inhibits who I am. It slows me down, makes me grouchy and tired and miserable, but its not me, its just me carrying a heavy weight. Rather than use it as an excuse or hate myself, I can be proud that I am still moving forward despite that weight, and so can you.
