Today is R U OK? Day
Whats that? Glad you asked :) It's a national day of action that aims to prevent suicide. Simply by taking the time to chat and connect with people you care about. To help stop little problems become big ones.
Why? Up to 65,000 Australian attempt to take their lives every year
In 1998, I was one of them.
I tried to end my life. And I almost succeed.
I'm not tell you all this for any other reason then, you just don't know how someone is, unless you ask.
Would you have guessed that I have depression? That for me it's like diabetes. I will always be medicated and always require extra love and support of those around me. And that I am lucky I didn't die. Very lucky. I know that now. I am SO lucky.
I have support. I have wonderful friends. I have an amazing family. I know I can pick up the phone and say I'm not ok, please help me, and they will all be there.
My husband. An incredible man that has cared for me at times where the black has swallowed me up. When I couldn't function. Where I couldn't get out of bed. He has had to be completely selfless. And words can't describe how extraordinary his love is. I completely adore him. And trust him with my life.
So. Why not take the time to check out this site, and ask someone close to you R U OK? You will never know unless you ask....
So my dear friends, R U OK? xox
Whats that? Glad you asked :) It's a national day of action that aims to prevent suicide. Simply by taking the time to chat and connect with people you care about. To help stop little problems become big ones.
Why? Up to 65,000 Australian attempt to take their lives every year
In 1998, I was one of them.
I tried to end my life. And I almost succeed.
I'm not tell you all this for any other reason then, you just don't know how someone is, unless you ask.
Would you have guessed that I have depression? That for me it's like diabetes. I will always be medicated and always require extra love and support of those around me. And that I am lucky I didn't die. Very lucky. I know that now. I am SO lucky.
I have support. I have wonderful friends. I have an amazing family. I know I can pick up the phone and say I'm not ok, please help me, and they will all be there.
My husband. An incredible man that has cared for me at times where the black has swallowed me up. When I couldn't function. Where I couldn't get out of bed. He has had to be completely selfless. And words can't describe how extraordinary his love is. I completely adore him. And trust him with my life.
So. Why not take the time to check out this site, and ask someone close to you R U OK? You will never know unless you ask....
So my dear friends, R U OK? xox
38 comments:
Hi Bianca,
Thanks for sharing your story.
When i was at school 2 guys i knew took their own lives. Boys from good families, popular boys, boys you would never have guessed would be thinking of suicide.
I am Ok, thanks for asking, but there have been times when I was not and I know i have to keep checking on myself too.
I am glad you are Ok and that you are blessed with wonderful family
Jodiexx
I am so glad you are here too. Such a well written post. It is amazing the number of people who suffer depression that you just don't know about when they could really do with someone to talk to. We were just talking about this recently - the number of older males (Dad's friends)in the country who suffer because they are too embarrased to talk about it an don't want people to know.
A very brave post Bianca. I too battle with depression. Thank you for your post.
Thank you for sharing. I too suffer from depression and have been to the dark place too. Sometimes I feel as though I am returning there once again which scares the living daylights out of me so perhaps it is time to return to the doctor again. I am so happy that you have wonderful family and a loving husband who understands you.
Glad U R OK Bianca. It's a great initiative and good to see it getting community support.
I'm ok and I'm soooo glad you're ok. My world wouldn't be as shiney and sparkley without you.
Chins up and keep me on speed dial.
Ab and Russ xx
Ps. Yay for AJ x
I'm with Ab!
You are so ace Bianca. I'm sure that wasn't the easiest post to write.
Call me any time too.
So pleased you have that ace man to look after you, you deserve it.
Lots of love XX
I'm glad you are Ok too!! And that you have lots of family and friends around you!
We have had suicide touch our family and it is devestating!
Hugs to you!! Thanks for sharing your story!
Wow. Thanks for sharing and no, I wouldn't have guessed. This makes me question what we expect depressed people to 'be like'. Sad, introverted, quiet etc. My brother suffers from depression and both my mum and I have recently gone off medication - more for anxiety in our case I think.
i'm ok, r u ok? and i'll be there if ever u need me, just a phone call away and about 45 minutes if i drive really fast!
x
Good for you Bianca, this is a topic rarely discussed and yet I'm sure it has affected all of us in some way or another.
Right now I'm kinda not okay. My ex is being sneaky and trying to convince the twins to live with him. Have all sorts of stuff bouncing around in my head right now hence the blog & twitter silence.
Thanks for asking, I'm sure it will all be fine but just when you think everything is cruising along nicely along comes another curve ball.
I hope U R Ok Bianca, you really are lucky to have such a loving supportive family.
Im also OK. I can relate to the dark place and it is so good to have wonderful friends and family around. Keep smiling☺♡ see you soon
Wonderful post Bianca. Most of us are completely oblivious and don't fully understand mental illness. I'm sure it's even more difficult because everything looks fine from the outside, but on the inside, things are not fine at all.
I'm very glad that you have such supportive friends and family, and I'm very glad that you're ok!
Marvellous post Bianca, and thank you for sharing, for being brave & helping to shed some light on the too often over-looked problems of suicide & depression.
My Uncle took his own life earlier this year & I still find it hard to believe, hard to deal with; he seemed more than ok, he seemed like he was happy, content, full of life - Absoloutely the last person you would think to ask... but I can't help but wonder how things might have been different if somebody had.
xo
Thanks for sharing. Let's keep talking and not hiding. Depression should no longer be something we are ashamed of. Thinking of you, crystal
Hugs to you for being brave and honest, a tough thing to say out loud. And a hug for your husband for being there for you, that can not have been easy. X sam
Im good thanks Bianca and im glad you are too - some days im not - it all gets a bit much but im lucky too - i have a very supportive partner which makes all the difference, big hugs to you xxx
well I just love you even more Bianca - and is that possible? thank you for sharing and you have a gorgeous life and family that we would never know. God bless husbands too!
well done for sharing!
Corrie:)
Thank you so for being so brave and sharing. Depression affects so many people and this is a wonderful way to raise awareness and just make people think to check and ask, and help where you can.
I am so glad that you are OK and yes I'm OK. Thank you.
My dear friend, you are just so awesome, I didn't realize that today was that day but I want to thank you for joining me for lunch today and thank you for coming to the "wrong" address yesterday when I clearly wasn't ok. I haven't known you for long but truth be known, I feel like it's been forever and I am grateful for you being you and for being there all the time! Know that I am always here to return the favor! xx
I think that you are pretty ace... yes. And I think that depression is a boil on the bottom of humanity. I do. And I think that it is really important to talk about depression, because it is such a horrible dark cloud looming over some lovely people's lives.... and they should not face that looming-ness alone.
(And okay today, might not mean okay tomorrow... and we should remember to check in often on our dark-cloud-battling friends.)
Thanks for the reminder, petal. xx
I'm OK, thanks for asking. And i'm very glad that you are OK too.
I'm okay. Are you okay?
It's an excellent reminder that we do need to check in with our friends often. You just never know what's going on, do you?
I've had depression. And people would never have known. I've been to dark places. And I hide it well.
I'm sorry you've been there too.
Great post, thank you!
Darling, courageous Bibs thank you for posting this. What a legend. You know I love you!
I wanted to say ditto, ditto, ditto in that post, but you know that too :)
I'm ok, ok?
xo
P.S My word verification is OPHOO! Poo poo to you too, blogger.
Bianca you are one fabulous, brave, wonderful and lucky lady. To tell us all your story is brave and an important reminder to always ask everyone how they are. Depression has affected my family when I was growing up and it was difficult to deal with. It is so important to have love, support and help to get you through, I'm so glad you did. Thank you so much for sharing with us. xo
P.S. I'm doing ok and I'm so glad you are too:)
Just fine ... thanks for asking!!!
So glad you are too!!
Andi x
Nice post Bianca, well sad story but good on you for sharing it YKWIM. I used to have a perception of what depressed people were and how they acted until I became one and it blew my perceptions out of the water but because of those it did take me a while to seek help in admitting something was wrong and I needed help.
The black dog is a biatch. I know it well. Glad you're still with us x
((Hugs)) With a little bit of insight like this comes I am sure a ton more support your way....:) You are awesome girl!!!
Hi Bianca!
Thanks for being bold enough and having the courage to share your story. I think most people will know someone who either has depression, or has come through it at some stage. I have several. One was a friend from Uni. I knew something was wrong, but not what. I just wish I had had enough courage at the time to ask if he was ok. He wasn't. I have learnt my lesson.
Now I even check with some of my blog land acquaintances if they haven't been around their blog for a while. Thanks for the reminder, and the encouragement to "Ask anyway", even if I feel a bit like a git doing so! :)
Hope you have a great weekend!
Good on you Bianca!! Hugs, sunshine, luck & love, Posie
PS word verification is 'grate' but we know it meant to say 'Bianca is GREAT' x x
Good on you Bianca, I wrote a post a month ago about a friend of mine who suicided. it still makes me sad. I agree it is important to ask but important to act also. xx
Great post Bianca and I'm also glad you are here. I sometimes think we only talk about the good things on our blogs often hiding in a little fantasy world that is all rosey.
such a wonderful honest and brave post. I can truly understand where you are coming from, I too attempted suicide in Nov 08 and I am lucky to be here today, there are times when I still get to that dark place and it scares me, but I don't think I would take it that far again thanks for your post xx
Great post Bianca, a subject that is kept well wrapped up here in the UK. You should be so proud of yourself for sharing the demon that is depression. I too have been in that dark place and am overly aware of how hard it is to share such a taboo subject. Today, at this moment, I am ok I hope you are too.
Best wishes Clare
How brave you are for sharing your story. I'm glad that you were feeling okay when you wrote this post - I hope your feeling today too. I think Pip makes a really important point - ok today doesn't mean ok tomorrow.
I can relate to your story intimately. I was very anxious and depressed during my second pregnancy and had battled with thoughts of suicide. It is only now that I am well that I can look back and see how close to the edge (literally at times) I was. Being well is hard work... and today I am ok, better than ok even :)
Bianca the lovely. I too am very glad you are still here. and glad that you have good people, including great partner. I am okay. But haven't been at times. Thanks for your words, brave girl :)
That was round about the time I was pretty unstable too. A lot of people go through it and no one knows. It is hard to let people know and getting it out is hard. Well done to you and So glad you have lots of love and family around you now :-)
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