Living with anxiety and depression can be incredibly taxing on the mind and body. You probably already knew that as you also, like me, deal with one or both on a daily basis. For those of you lucky enough to be reading this and have no idea what that feels like, let me illustrate it for you.
Imagine life with anxiety and depression is like sitting on a fence in the middle of a hill. Everyone else is at the top of the hill enjoying life and all it has to offer. But you fell down the hill sometime during your life, and now sit on this fence instead. The fence is uncomfortable and even painful to sit on, but you’ve been here for so long that you’ve grown used to the pain. Yet, you often want to get off, because life on this fence is unbearable. Especially while looking up at all the people on the top of the hill enjoying life so much. After some thought, you realize that there are only 2 options to get off this fence, either up the hill or down it.
Down the Hill
Let’s start with the bad news. You look at the bottom of the hill and realize the easier of the two options would be to roll your way down the hill. You think about it all the time, how much would it hurt? The answer is a lot, as the slope is not steady, and is very jagged. You’ll most likely break all the bones in your body on the way down, suffer numerous cuts, and land at the bottom, unable to move and slowly and painfully bleeding out until you ultimately die. It certainly would not be the best way to go, but it sure beats sitting on this fence for your whole life. Or so you think because you have your friends and family scrambling on the top of the hill to find a rope, ladder, anything to pull you back up. They would never be able to reach you if you fell to the bottom, no one can. However, where you are now, you can just barely not reach this rope that is just dangling right there in front of you. So you stay on this fence just a while longer.
Up the Hill
Life looks so wonderful at the top of the hill. You might even remember what it was like to be there. Your friends and family are all worried sick about you sitting on this fence, trying their best to find any way to pull you up. The rope they dangle right in front of you, just short that you can’t reach it is all they can offer without having been on the fence themselves. You look at the bottom and face that you’re just not ready to fall and that you don’t want to be on this fence anymore, so the only way is up. It will be grueling and probably just as painful as the way down. You’ll have to use every ounce of your strength to climb this slope while making sure you don’t slip back down to the fence. It might take months, years or even your whole life, but you’re determined to get off this fence and back to the top of the hill.
Your Adversaries
Either up or down, both are options at this point, because you just can’t take this fence any longer. Depression has made it a cold rainy day, making sitting on this fence incredibly painful. Depression turns the top of the hill into an unachievable dream. Depression has made the shouts of joy coming from the top sound like laughter that you’re stuck on this fence. Depression has made it so this fence is more comfortable than either up or down. You think it can’t get any worse, but Anxiety has made the wind gust incredibly strong, shaking the fence every chance it gets. It’s made it so there is a lightning rod attached to the fence in this terrible weather, torching you every so often. There are so many things that just want to knock you off the fence, down the valley below. Yet you just cling to this fence for dear life, unable to go either direction.
The thing is, unbeknownst to you, you are not alone on this fence, there are millions just like you, clutching to this fence every day. How much easier would it be if we all just held onto each other, or made a human chain up the hill. Just know that if you’re suffering on that fence, there are always people here to help you from falling to the bottom of the hill.
Nicely penned.
Thank you
So very true. There are a lot of us on this fence. The view might be a little different from one person to the next, but we are all sitting here together. Nicely written. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading. Hopefully we can all help eachother and get through together
Very inspiring
Glad you liked it
This is very, very well explained! might actually use this to explain anxiety to people
I absolutely love reading your writing. The way you describe things is so accurate and spot on. I continue to feel this way as I try to make my way up hill, glancing back at the fence however often.
I myself am in a similar situation, halfway up the hill, in the rain, slipping, but still clawing my way towards to top
Keep on climbing. Cheering you on
Thanks! I’ll keep you in mind as I make my way up
So very relatable 👏🏼
It always makes me happy and sad when what I write is relatable. Happy that I was efficient in getting my point across, sad that people can relate to my experiences with their own. It’s always a weird feeling
I’m sick of people calling me ‘brave’ for speaking out. When I feel I’m a fraud if people call me that.
I feel that way sometimes, but I’m not speaking out for myself, I’m speaking out for others. When I remember that, I don’t really care what I’m called
love the simile. thanks! I intend to use it to explain the situation to others.
I felt as though it would be a good way to explain it to others
A very helpful explanation, thanks. I loved your final thought – positive and true.
Thank you for this. You described it beautifully.
You’re very welcome, I do the best I can
Hey , your content is amazing…
Take time to check out mine..
https://oorjaagrawal.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/emerging-soul/
It helps me undertand my friends who have depression better, thanks for sharing
That’s the whole point of why I write, thank you so much for saying that
Your post is heart-touching.Sometimes we all go through depression but few of us are able to deal with it effectively.Our negative emotions can shorten our lives very easily.
I believe we must know how to control our negative emotions rather than allowing it to control us.Check out some tips to make it possiblle here; http://africanparadiseworld.com/2017/11/03/how-to-deal-with-depression/
Very good visual. On point. As usual!!! Write on!
Thanks!! If you like my writing, read more at my blog smileswebear.com! I think you would like some of my other works too!!
I’m new to blogging. What is the difference between what I read from you and that blog?
What you’re reading is the blog The Bipolar Writer by James Edgar Skye. I write here with the permission of the main author, as a contributing blogger. The Smiles We Bear is my own personal blog, where I can write whatever I want, and so far everything is published by only me.
Oh!!!!! I didn’t realize that. Ok. I will check it out for sure!!!
Thanks!!
I am extremely new to this world of blogging. Just want to say that this is great. Love the message & the content itself. Keep on climbing that fence cause there is a lot of us on it indeed.
Thank you very much, I’m glad you enjoyed it!
What a beautiful post! I love the picture (word picture and actual image) of holding onto the fence.
Thanks, I really like the imagery when I was writing it too. I think it’s a very good way to explain mental illness to people who don’t understand
Wonderful post! Check out my blog!!
Drop the link and I’ll check it out
http://thoughtsfromcami.wordpress.com
I understand what you mean. I too have anxiety. Sometimes I look at people and think “wow, Imagine being able to live like that”. I love how you explained it like your on a fence. Hope it gets better for you.
Thanks, it has gotten slightly better with medications, but not by much. I hope that things get better for you as well
Thankyou
You have a great blog. Would you like to share the story what motivated you to start Jamesedgarskye Blog on What You Blog About ?
Unfortunately, I am not the blogs creator, that would be James Edgar Skye, I simply write here, as he allows it
I do however had my own blog at http://www.smileswebear.com if you’d like to check that out
Thank you, Alan, for your response. If you like I can submit your story behind blogging on What You Blog About.
I would would love that, how would I go about doing so?
It will definitely be a good free publicity for your blog. You can find out more on this page how to get your story
published. https://whatyoublogabout.wordpress.com/about/
That… made me hopeful. Knowing that you’re not alone, is probably one of the major things that gives one courage to get up, fight back!
I agree, that’s the main reason I write, thanks for reading!
If you have time could you just read my blog thespartanspeaks.wordpress.com and could you tell me how it is
I would be obliged if you do so
Your writing is very good, I would say to work on the grammar and pacing, as I often found myself getting lost in the choppiness of your writing. I love your direction though, and think your style is very unique. Keep up the good work!
Thnx alan I’ll try to cover my flaws
Could do me a favour
Can I just ping you when I write a blog and you could help me with the pros and cons
Only if that’s fine with ya
I would love to help you with that, but I have my own site that takes up all my time. I will however follow your site and watch your growth
How much easier would it be if we all just held onto each other, or made a human chain up the hill. Just know that if you’re suffering on that fence, there are always people here to help you from falling to the bottom of the hill.
This is so beautifully penned ..thank you 🙂
Thank you for reading! Glad you enjoyed
I can totally relate.. loved this
Sorry that you can relate, but glad you enjoyed reading!
kirstenstokes.com subscribe, learn, read, comment, and enjoy it!
nice, way inspiring.
Thanks, glad you think so!
I can relate to this so, so much. It’s always a comfort to know I’m not alone.
What is our decision at the end of the day? Siting there or do something about life? We can not just blame life for make us like this, we shape our own lives. It is all up to us, to sit there and complaint or stop sitting on the foot of the hill.
This really illustrates how I feel. I feel like so many other people are on top of the hill, and they don’t even realize it.
I agree, there are many that really take for granted that they’re already on top of the hill, when there are so many struggling to climb up
Well explained and beautifully written
Thank you, I tried to put it into words as well as I could
Superlike 😊
Thanks!
I could relate to every word. It’s true that there are others battling other fights, we just all need to help one other, not boasting about who is more hurting and who’s not. Glad I discovered this on wordpress, i’m going to follow you for this great post 🙂 Have a great day 🙂
Thanks for reading, glad you enjoyed!
Up the hill we go, stay there and don’t let go, help others along the way..
That’s the hope anyways, thanks for reading!
That was very well explained. I think so many don’t really understand. Well said!
I agree, not many understand but glad you enjoyed reading!
Amazing explanation of situations in life through this illustration. Just one word for it- incredible 👏
Thank you!!
🙂
Happy Friday..
I really liked reading, that was good explained… I know how it feels like, you are not alone 🙂
& nice photo
so relatable! thank you for this!
I always thought, we cannot be alone and be quiet. We express our thoughts just the way you do, how you put them into words. To get affirmation and most importantly-knowledge. To keep seeking for answers and solutions.
Anxiety is misunderstood. People are quick to say “Just calm down!” Thanks…but don’t you think that I would if I could? You painted a beautiful picture with words about 2 illnesses that can consume someone. Thanks for this!
I agree, anxiety is misunderstood as well as depression, glad you liked it!
this seems good enough and inspirational …
hope you will support and like mind tooo
Very beautiful article! I have written an article on a similar topic. Please check that too!
https://theyashvardhansingh.wordpress.com/2018/06/18/breathing-life/