-May Is Mental Health Awareness Month-
I am very open about my struggles with depression as I hope that by speaking up it will help destigmatize mental illness. People say, “You don’t seem like you are depressed. You are so happy and outgoing” or “You have a dream life — you have nothing to be sad about.” And they are right, I am good at turning my frown upside down to appear okay. And they are right, I do have great life.
But that doesn’t stop the darkness from overcoming me. It doesn’t stop the chemicals in my body from being imbalanced, begging me to turn off the lights. I am grateful to have finally found the right medicine for me as for the last two years I have not experienced any darkness. This has been the first time in my life I have not been tempted to take my own life.
I am one of the lucky ones that found a medicine that works. Millions of others are on a never ending journey of trial and error with medicines that effect every part of who they are and who they can be. They need your love and support. Please do not dismiss their illnesss as being all in their head, or as being something that they can control if only they were to eat better or exercise.
To honor those who suffer from any kind of mental illness, I made the Astonishing Light necklace* as a call to action for us all to be there for those who are in need of a reminder of their own astonishing light. Please share this message so that together we may help others.
“I wish I could show you when you are lonely or in darkness the astonishing light of your own being.” – Hafiz
xoxo Jen Pleasants, Designer
showtheLOVE
*10% of the proceeds from the piece go to Out of The Darkness, Suicide Prevention.