Alert: There’s fewer dicks in this post than you’d expect on this blog.
If you are a regular reader, or someone who follows me on twitter, you might have noticed a slowdown of posting and chatter in the last few months from me. I think it’s important to take some time here and talk about why that is. Not just to show that there’s a serious explanation to my internet absence, but also to bring some reality and truthiness to what might otherwise seem a one-dimensional, sex-crazed Instagram personality. I’m a real guy, after all.
Depression is hard, y’all.
Since November, I’ve been dealing with some mild to worsening depression combined with an already present generalized anxiety situation. This is a place I have been before a few times in my life. I’ve sat with depressive episodes in my late teens, my mid twenties, and now again, at the cusp of real adulthood.
Statistically, it’s likely that you’re familiar with depression and the ways that it manifests itself; 16 million adults suffer a major depressive episode in any given year in the US. However, unlike other diseases and disorders, depression can seem entirely nuanced and tailored to the specific life and mind of the person experiencing. This means that my symptoms might not look like your symptoms, and the degrees to which I am able to function in my life are inconsistent, even day-to-day.
Some days, I feel fine. Not stellar or excited or amazing, but fine. I can get up, go to the gym, run errands, and return correspondence like an adult.
Other days, I cannot (I don’t know a better word to express the feeling, and if you haven’t experienced depression it might be difficult to fully understand why that word is appropriate and quite literal here) get out of bed or leave my house. These days offer a sensation like a sudden realization that nothing matters and that my life will remain the same whether I get up or go back to sleep; a spontaneous nihilism that just occurred to me on waking. It is a sense of exhaustion and hopelessness which seems in the moment as though it will go on eternally.
It is this sense of impending “forever” that makes these days most difficult.
But wait, it gets worse…
Often, in things that I have read about depression and the symptoms it forces upon the lives of sufferers, this is where descriptions of trauma and pain stop. But there is a secondary facet to this in my experience that is harder to illuminate and more embarrassing and difficult to talk about.
A common theme between my major depressive episodes is a point at which I begin to lose control of my plate spinning: emails go unanswered for days (weeks?), social media goes unattended, my site doesn’t get updated, and the hours I might spend talking about different kinds of balls or dissecting masturbatory habits here, become hours half-focused on tv shows I’ve seen dozens of times before. Or just sleeping.
I begin to disappoint and fail the people around me without any clear explanation to them about why. I am too afraid and ashamed to say that I am simply “depressed.” It doesn’t feel like that should be enough. Especially when it is contrasted with the things I do manage to do. The meetings I do manage to make, and the messages I do manage to return (if you can do it that time, why not this time?).
Because I have my personal economy to support, I can usually make it to meetings and work “have to’s,” but eventually, even these suffer from my lack of enthusiasm and an inability to focus.
But then it gets better.
If there is anything that I have learned from my experiences, it is that there is no forcing wellness into depression. As tempting as the thought of “just get over it!” seems, it is fruitless to try to “will” oneself back to “normal,” and often this effort leaves you more tired and frustrated with yourself than when you began. Instead, I have had to learn how to make space for this. Indeed, to make space for myself in my own life. To recognize that there will be difficulties and failings fueled by circumstances that are – to a large degree – out of my direct control.
The things that I can control, I try to change. I have been in CBT since late November (the psychology-related one, not this one), and simply having a neutral forum in which to discuss my situation openly has been of tremendous benefit.
Being kinder to myself about missed deadlines or late replies is also something I am striving for, though I am not making monumental progress. I still feel very badly when someone says something kind or sends a gift or note, and I do not answer them immediately. There is still a narrative in my brain along the lines of my old retail mantra of “time to lean = time to clean.” If I have the time and energy to feel badly about something, why not just change it and do what I’m meant to do?
Because sometimes I simply can’t.
If you have been neglected by me in one form or another these past few months, I am sincerely sorry. I am most sorry for making space for the idea that it might have been something you did or said that put me off. I hate the idea that you would think that, and it is most definitely not the truth.
In the fullness of time I will reply to all of my messages, and I will begin to return to a semblance of normality. There will be time for new posts, tweets, and instagrams. Most importantly, there will be time for the connections in my life that make what I do so worthwhile. You (yes, you, if you are reading this. I mean you), have come here to hear what I have to say, and to reply in kind in the comments, and it means the whole world to me to know that I am in such good company, and that the things I love are the things lots of people love. We will get back to loving them together.
It will just take me some time.
-t
PS: If you are struggling with depression, and you want to tell me about it, I am always here to listen. You can email me or find me on Telegram. My own baggage might slow my response to you, but know that you are heard, whether I shout back immediately or not.
Tyler Dårlig Ulv (@tylerthebadwolf)
Hi everybody. I’m sorry I’ve been away. I’ve been dealing with some #mentalhealth stuff the past few weeks and I wr… https://t.co/qZrKixiHlw
Ace
Thanks for being willing to talk about your issues with depression. A lot of us who have it, guys especially, feel like we can’t talk about these sorts of things due to social rules/pressure. But I think it is important to talk about it so that we see we aren’t alone. So thanks for talking about it so openly.
tylerthebadwolf
Thanks for being here, man.
-t
Paul Rosenberg
My friend, as the husband of a man with severe, chronic depression, I can offer this handful of possibly impotent suggestions:
1) Exercise
2) Meditation
3) Medication
4) Connection
“Possibly impotent” because I know that sometimes it just is what it is and the only thing one can do is survive long enough to do something, anything for oneself. Remember that the voice of your depression does not represent reality. Connect with anyone you trust enough to keep giving you reality checks.
tylerthebadwolf
You are a better friend than I am due. Grateful for you and your insight.
-t
Ace
Hey, man, anytime. We all have to look out for each other as best we can these days. We’re so bombarded by bad advice from people who don’t know any better that it can be hard to come up for air no matter how we struggle. But together we can do it.
Gina
I know it well and have the Lexapro to prove it.
tylerthebadwolf
I’m certainly sorry that anyone can ever say that. But solidarity is never a bad thing. I’m glad you’re here.
-t
JRozi
I’m new to your blog, but have been following you for a while (not in person; don’t fret haha). It’s a coincidence that I just happen to visit your blog for the first time and your latest post is about depression. I’ve been battling what you described. In fact, I’ve been battling it for years. But this year, it’s been particularly hard. I’ve sought therapy, but it only took me so far, albeit to a better place than I had been previoulsy. The depression cloud comes in waves–I stay stuck for a while but then I feel free. I just hate not knowing when the wave will come 🙁 I don’t have any direct advice, but I can tell you, sharing with others is therapy in itself. Living takes a lifetime, and each day we’re glad we made it through, no matter how bad. You’re a creative man with passion. It can happen to the best of us, I suppose. Keep living. Take care, man.
– JRozi
tylerthebadwolf
JRozi –
I really appreciate you sharing your story here. And thank you for your kind words and thoughts. It has been useful for me to hear that what I describe is so shared and nearly universal, however disheartening the fact of that really is.
I’m glad you’re here.
-t
James
Hello Tyler. Been some time since I commented on your writing, but back in a better place as well. You have been very brave to open up and talk about your depression and what you are facing. I have been suffering with depression for over 40 years, and as mature gay male of 62 years, the cycles seem to get worse, and I struggle with dealing with it as well.
Just know that we love you and you have all of our support, and when you go silent for a while, we will be sending you positive energy and hoping for you to move into a better space.
tylerthebadwolf
Thank you, James. Sincerely. I’m glad you’re still here and still reading and that something I could say might resonate with you. That means a lot to me.
-t
@sunshinelaughin
@1RainbowDawn @BigSi1980 Truth Talk: Depression | Badwolf/Blog https://t.co/vVO5Bk5LRt This is so brave of… https://t.co/GLpspnTQFi
Bob Milhaus
It took a lot of grounding and courage for you to open up about depression to your followers, and, it *may* just be the start of a her process of healing for you.
I have danced with depression and alcoholism for decades. Thankfully I am now 18 years sober, and still dancing with the “big “D”
For me joining AA helped save my life as did going into Therapy for multiple years After five years in therapy, I was pronounced making enough progress that I would let go of the therapy for a while, but; Depression is a very patient lover or disease, and I had to get back into therapy. I’m “better” now, and know full well that nothing is permanent except my sobriety (one day at a time)
I wish you all the best, and if you are ever in the DC area and want to hang out and chat about our disease, you are more than welcome to.
Keep up the keeping up, and be gentle with yourself, forgive yourself and others and pat yourself on the back for your honesty and compassion
Sigistrix
Hey. I know it’s been a while since I’ve commented (and I’m not exactly a regular at that, but yeah). I’m a lifelong member of the depression fraternity (dysthymia, to be precise; my brain make-a no happy, for slightly sillier), too. I wake up with it and a few of it’s friends (anxiety and a few others) every morning. But if EVER you need a near complete stranger to vent at, cry on or just bounce stuff off of, don’t hesitate to gimme a holler. You have my email and you’re on Tumblr (I get notifications when you post and you haven’t been, lately). Any time. Any where.
(also, I didn’t get emails about a some of your newer posts, so I’ve been catching up)