Your bones scream to rest
an anvil on your chest
no dawn comes lightly.
Invite the monster to sit with you
it gains ugliness with denial
put your arm around that which
you don’t want to hold.
© Alicia Grimshaw 2018
“When you come out of the grips of a depression there is an incredible relief, but not one you feel allowed to celebrate. Instead, the feeling of victory is replaced with anxiety that it will happen again, and with shame and vulnerability when you see how your illness affected your family, your work, everything left untouched while you struggled to survive. We come back to life thinner, paler, weaker … but as survivors. Survivors who don’t get pats on the back from coworkers who congratulate them on making it.” – Jenny Lawson’s book Furiously Happy
flashlight batteries - Ali Grimshaw 
That’s an excellent point I haven’t thought about before. We do congratulate people who recover from serious physical illnesses, even those like cancer, which often come back. But we don’t do that for people who suffer from depression. The image of “putting your arm around that which you don’t want to hold” is so powerful…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ann, I truly appreciate your willingness to see the challenges that face those with depression and other invisible illnesses. Thanks for being a supportive reader. Have a wonderful day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ah, the denial, it feeds it doesn’t it? Strong post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes it does.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wonderful message. I love the idea of putting your arm around you opponent. That’s good advice for a lot of things…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. Tough times come to all of us and i hope my words bring comfort.
LikeLike
no dawn comes lightly
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you dear friend.
LikeLike