"My name is Ben and I get depressed sometimes."

[Cormac135]

My name is @@@@ and i've been depressed for two years now.

You may recall my mum died on Christmas day morning(classic mum) and my world has been pretty shit since really, especially with the Covid starting up 3 months later in March, thankfully i had friends and i include people on here as friends who offered an ear and kind words and even though I've never cried over her death and God knows she deserves tears, I'm now out the other side of what was a rather dark place and enjoying life/cock again.

Thanks to all who helped.

 

[rareboy]

I think that many of us aren't prepared for loss of a parent or that beyond grief, plunging into depression as we re-organize our thinking about our own place in the scheme of things. Losing both parents and two close friends in one year through illness and accident just left me shredded and it took months and months to reassemble. I understand depression very well now and deeply empathize with everyone of any age who is trying to deal with it.

 

[Peloso]

For Mental Health Day 2021, a young man named Ben Ogden did this. The first part is Ben in Leeds Station interacting with complete strangers who stop to talk with him. The second part is Ben with his new friend, Matthew Payne, who has joined Ben in dealing with their mental issues, discussing their reactions to their experiment:

I first came across Ben recently when I followed a link to an article posted by Unloadonme somewhere. The photo of Ben caught my interest and I'm glad I clicked on it. Not only is Ben exceptionally cute, he's an amazing young man trying to deal with his mental issues.

The article and video are on the BBC website. There is far more spontaneous interaction with Ben and passers-by in Leeds Station. (Some members here should be seriously impressed with one of the reactions. )

https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-leeds-59267245

I know everybody's intentions are good here, and I appreciate that this topic is worming it's way into people's consciousness, but come on . This video the equivalent of Trump throwing paper towels at hurricane victims.

First of all, this guy is good looking which makes him approachable. Second, everybody, literally everybody gets "depressed sometimes''. Try chronic depression on for size, Ben. Or better yet, change the sign to "My name is Ben and I get psychotic sometimes" and watch people walk in a perfect arc around him, completely oblivious to the fact that most psychotics experience only the negative symptoms of psychosis (difficulty thinking, speaking, moving or periods of catatonia). Cutting off a prison guard's face and wearing it in an ambulance is not, contrary to popular belief, a common activity for people with psychotic disorders.

I'd like to see an OCD version of that sign but what would it say? All I can think of are jokes. I myself can't even fill out a fucking form. I'm probably teeming with cancer cells but have a mortal fear of doctors and medical procedures. My insurance is bugging me to get a colonoscopy. I pre-wrote and rehearsed a lengthy diatribe to explain the how's and why's of this, but after reciting it perfectly to an impatient insurance agent, all I got in return was confused silence followed by a simple "Oh, you'll be fine." Translation: don't be silly. So that's my new dx: Silly.

Again, I appreciate both Ben and the OP here, but we've got a looooooooong way to go on this.

 

[gsdx]

^ Sorry, but a lot of us prefer to give the guy credit for gathering the courage to do what he did. I, personally, have suffered from depression for years and have battled anxiety for decades. I take your words as a personal insult, your final sentence notwithstanding.

 

[rareboy]

I know everybody's intentions are good here, and I appreciate that this topic is worming it's way into people's consciousness, but come on . This video the equivalent of Trump throwing paper towels at hurricane victims.

First of all, this guy is good looking which makes him approachable. Second, everybody, literally everybody gets "depressed sometimes''. Try chronic depression on for size, Ben. Or better yet, change the sign to "My name is Ben and I get psychotic sometimes" and watch people walk in a perfect arc around him, completely oblivious to the fact that most psychotics experience only the negative symptoms of psychosis (difficulty thinking, speaking, moving or periods of catatonia). Cutting off a prison guard's face and wearing it in an ambulance is not, contrary to popular belief, a common activity for people with psychotic disorders.

I'd like to see an OCD version of that sign but what would it say? All I can think of are jokes. I myself can't even fill out a fucking form. I'm probably teeming with cancer cells but have a mortal fear of doctors and medical procedures. My insurance is bugging me to get a colonoscopy. I pre-wrote and rehearsed a lengthy diatribe to explain the how's and why's of this, but after reciting it perfectly to an impatient insurance agent, all I got in return was confused silence followed by a simple "Oh, you'll be fine." Translation: don't be silly. So that's my new dx: Silly.

Again, I appreciate both Ben and the OP here, but we've got a looooooooong way to go on this.

This is the truth. But until my Doc and I had a really frank talk...I had just kept pushing it down.

And I come from a northern European (4% neandrathal) background (50%) with depression built in.

And an Anglo 'just suck it up' (50%) background.

What I learned (because I had access to some of the best minds in this subject) and embraced is that this is neurophysiological, based in chemistry as anything.

Every one of us can make it back. And it can be a journey. But if anyone and I mean ANYONE out there is feeling at the bottom...just PM me.

 

[Ludlow]

^ Sorry, but a lot of us prefer to give the guy credit for gathering the courage to do what he did. I, personally, have suffered from depression for years and have battled anxiety for decades. I take your words as a personal insult, your final sentence notwithstanding.

I think Peloso is giving him some credit. It's excellent that depression and anxiety- which have become so ubiquitous today (I think especially because of how highly-stimulated, restless and consumption-heavy our society and shared culture has become)- are being talked about. They are necessary to address and open communication is the key. But it has to be said that for the purposes of mass media they have become a sort of short-hand for the entire issue of mental health; having been misconstrued and manipulated into a kind of media-amenable umbrella term for the subject when there is so much more that continues to be shied away from. The subject of mental health is therefore still kept at a safe-ish distance, with a largely media-led society seemingly prepared to look upon what has been packaged as the presentable, camera-ready (dare I say, "en vogue", due to the nature of social media platforms in particular) "face" of the issue; meanwhile, there are deep, chronic problems festering away in the darkness- far away from the lights of the media; because, as Peloso rightly points out, there are issues that are still being intensely stigmatized when they need not be, and people are suffering greatly because of it. I think that Peloso was noting the reality that, sadly, there is indeed a long way to go and a lot to be done and it's going to take a lot more bold-mindedness, directness and empathy to make real progress than acknowledging and appreciating that people sometimes get depressed; although it's a start to the dialogue, to be sure; and we have to be hopeful that it continues in a meaningful way. For everyone's sake.

Also, it should be acknowledged that Peloso was himself sharing with us here an insight into issues he's dealing with in his own life- as others have already done. That in itself takes courage and is commendable and deserves to be received with openness and compassion.

Anyway, a dissenting voice or a different viewpoint needn't be perceived as an insult when it simply contributes another step in the evolution of an important discussion.

 

[Peloso]

I think Peloso is giving him some credit. It's excellent that depression and anxiety- which have become so ubiquitous today (I think especially because of how highly-stimulated, restless and consumption-heavy our society and shared culture has become)- are being talked about. They are necessary to address and open communication is the key. But it has to be said that for the purposes of mass media they have become a sort of short-hand for the entire issue of mental health; having been misconstrued and manipulated into a kind of media-amenable umbrella term for the subject when there is so much more that continues to be shied away from. The subject of mental health is therefore still kept at a safe-ish distance, with a largely media-led society seemingly prepared to look upon what has been packaged as the presentable, camera-ready (dare I say, "en vogue", due to the nature of social media platforms in particular) "face" of the issue; meanwhile, there are deep, chronic problems festering away in the darkness- far away from the lights of the media; because, as Peloso rightly points out, there are issues that are still being intensely stigmatized when they need not be, and people are suffering greatly because of it. I think that Peloso was noting the reality that, sadly, there is indeed a long way to go and a lot to be done and it's going to take a lot more bold-mindedness, directness and empathy to make real progress than acknowledging and appreciating that people sometimes get depressed; although it's a start to the dialogue, to be sure; and we have to be hopeful that it continues in a meaningful way. For everyone's sake.

Reverence for guys like Ben can be triggering for someone like me who's lost friends, lovers, jobs and homes, sometimes preemptively, due to their issues.

I appreciate your words, Ludlow. gsdx, I wish you'd read my post again with Ludlows words in mind. I think you misinterpreted my tone.