Thank you for coming by the depression and stillness sharing, the writing of Be Still is explained above; a story of a friend who took time out to find peace in an emotionally challenging time. Statistics on depression and anxiety show how in this country we are currently at an all time high, (a little under 1 in 10). My feeling is that stopping (stillness) and sharing about experiences together brings so much understanding and is a way to a better kinder society.  If you’d like to add your sharing you can send me a note in the contact page; named, anonymous, written, recorded or filmed and I’ll add it below.

also song suggestions for this playlist: songs about depression

love, Joe

Alice, London 

volunteer with The Samaritans, emotional support helpline

Sade, London

a did you know education film about depression

found this for you …

Robbie, London, a song, 

Colus, in Greece

Sam, Iowa,

Tedex learning film

found this for the page – ‘depression the leading cause of disability in the world’

Illa ,Cornwall

My goodness what to say.

I’m better now thank God, thanks friends and thank the Samaritans mentioned above. I say better, well, I am managing and I see things more clearly now.

about 5 years ago I began experiencing dark heavy feelings, I would wake up in the middle of the night feeling trapped and dangerously scared. My body did not feel my own somehow. I had no idea what to do with these feelings. I was in my early 20s recently moved from home and didn’t want to worry my parents so I was just with it night after sleepless night and heavy day after heavy day – this went on up and down better worse from about 6 months until I rang the Samaritans – over the next month I spoke to a number of people who didn’t judge me or tell me I was a nutter. They just gently brought me around and I was so glad to have made that call. It’s given me the strength and interest to look into it myself and I’m reading that many people have similar experiences and that was a relief , I’ve worked through it with books, talking therapy and mindfulness- I’ve come to think of it now as my share to move through thanks for reading.

Ali, Stroud (UK)

Hi Jo, when I read your post it reminded me of an email I wrote to my family explaining my feelings during the time I was experiencing some depression, I wrote: ‘it felt like being tossed about in turbulent waves, barely able to keep my head up, and going deep down into the depression, probably as a method to avoid the pain and trauma.’ Describing in struggle & difficultly of the feeling & constant life crisis I was going through. Pl ase feel free to include this quote in your project. With thanks Ali

Manu, London

‘I’ve never found myself in such a deep hole.’

My friend Manu shares about periods of depression 

Annabelle, London,

‘this is a tough one because I feel depressed at the moment’.

Annabelle, London ; a sharing of current depression.

Fern, Ireland, a story of moving country

Hi, JoeI’ve experienced depression shortly after moving to another country. Being away from everything that was familiar to me started taking its toll little by little. I struggled to belong, I wanted to be accepted, and I wanted to prove myself to others. I’ve put a lot of weight on my shoulders. I was also in an abusive relationship at the time, but had no idea. All I could feel was the energy being drained from my spirit, a sense of helplessness, of falling into a deep hole that was getting deeper by the day. I remember the despair of not wanting to exist anymore, and being scared and not knowing what to do with this feeling. When my anxiety reached its peak, the only thing that would calm me down was guided meditation. I needed to hear from someone else that “everything was okay”, because I was not strong enough to tell it to myself. Thankfully, this is all in the past. I’ve learned to keep an eye on my own feelings, to respect and accept them. I’ve learned to respect and accept myself as I am, warts and all. And to see that we are all beautiful creatures who deserve love. 🙂

Monica, the relationship between anger and sadness.

It is well understood that anger is the number one bodyguard of sadness. Sadness has depended deeply on anger’s loudness to distract from the truth of pain. 

Perhaps over the years anger lost sight of the strength and beauty that lies within sadness. It steps in every time, not allowing sadness the space it needs to fully express itself.

Anger instinctively reacts, trying to serve and protect, even when sadness is the one holding all the power. 

Anger and sadness will forever be a team. Their relationship undeniable and ever lasting. It is only their communication, their understanding of eachother that needs greater unity.

When anger is constantly bodyguarding all situations, on a forever alert, then all becomes exhausting. Far more so than letting sadness talk through tears and vulnerability.

Sadness needs to be shown the respect it deserves, while anger needs to be allowed to rest.

When anger is no longer your immediate form of expression to difficult situations, it will also no longer be your immediate form of expression towards others when sadness is your truth.

When your bodyguard is resting, then those around you will also be offered the opportunity to not call upon their own form of protection and distance.

All becomes an opportunity towards intimacy.
All becomes sacred communication.
All becomes a prayer.
With yourself ♡

from Monica’s Instagram #soulcommunion

Nic, singer /songwriter, London, chronic mental illness and song

I don’t often know why things are written and what they are about, in my song writing. Regularly they just oddly appear somehow. But I go back and reflect. If I reflect upon this one, I think it is something to do with the often strange and complex ability some people with chronic mental illness have to observe both despair and utter beauty simultaneously. And this is sometimes a confusing place to be: how can we see such wonder and still feel this heavy? But I think, if we can stand back just a little, it is actually a beautiful place to be. It nods to the reality of things. Both joy and pain exist, within and without. One no doubt needs the other. And we may feel joy and pain to the extremes, but even in the latter state we are in touch with the former. A part of us, even in complete darkness, can see the beauty in all things. 

click the picture to listen and download – all proceeds go to the Samaritans