I really relate to everything you said in this piece!
I have suffered from depression on and off for most of my life and I do find that writing about it helps give me an outlet to kind of co-ordinate my thoughts but I'm also always thinking should I be over-sharing like this? It must make me sound very self absorbed and narcissistic.
In the end I do it on the basis that it might help someone else feeling a similar way but then again, I have an audience of about 3 people.
I've also struggled with weight problems my whole life but the "body positivity" crap actually makes me angry. My experience of being obese has been pretty horrible. I don't think it should be thought of as desirable or something to be encouraged. When people make out you can be obese and healthy, to me it's insulting.
At the same time, I do agree with the general principal that you should treat others how you'd like to be treated yourself. Cowardly shouting "you fat b" from a white van is hardly going to help. I know what ends up happening, I get depressed because of the name calling and that triggers comfort eating which just makes the problem worse!
I have no idea either. I feel bad that you are suffering. I have family members that suffer from depression too.
I think that you probably made the right decision to leave Twitter again. I do love your perspective and I will miss seeing your tweets and replies, but I would not have the fortitude to let the name-calling roll off my back. I would feel a need to respond and once that starts, there is no winning with a dishonest actor, like many CRT activist on Twitter are. That is why I never start a thread, I only reply and do that rarely too.
I would suggest that if you go back to Twitter, you could restrict replies to your tweets to those that you follow or those that you mention in the tweet, like Steven Pinker does.
Regarding the depression, have you considered or tried treatment with psychedelics? Trial results are very promising.
Fair enough, Helen. Everything you write seems perfectly reasonable. Be kind to yourself 🤨 ha!
I really relate to everything you said in this piece!
I have suffered from depression on and off for most of my life and I do find that writing about it helps give me an outlet to kind of co-ordinate my thoughts but I'm also always thinking should I be over-sharing like this? It must make me sound very self absorbed and narcissistic.
In the end I do it on the basis that it might help someone else feeling a similar way but then again, I have an audience of about 3 people.
I've also struggled with weight problems my whole life but the "body positivity" crap actually makes me angry. My experience of being obese has been pretty horrible. I don't think it should be thought of as desirable or something to be encouraged. When people make out you can be obese and healthy, to me it's insulting.
At the same time, I do agree with the general principal that you should treat others how you'd like to be treated yourself. Cowardly shouting "you fat b" from a white van is hardly going to help. I know what ends up happening, I get depressed because of the name calling and that triggers comfort eating which just makes the problem worse!
Thank you for the great post. If you're interested, I wrote this blog piece about my experience with imposter syndrome and depression - https://rantover.co.uk/2022/11/26/banishing-the-imposter/
And this article on the joys of being obese - https://rantover.co.uk/2022/11/01/the-things-that-people-say/
They're not nearly as well crafted as your work but I would be interested in what you think
I have no idea either. I feel bad that you are suffering. I have family members that suffer from depression too.
I think that you probably made the right decision to leave Twitter again. I do love your perspective and I will miss seeing your tweets and replies, but I would not have the fortitude to let the name-calling roll off my back. I would feel a need to respond and once that starts, there is no winning with a dishonest actor, like many CRT activist on Twitter are. That is why I never start a thread, I only reply and do that rarely too.
I would suggest that if you go back to Twitter, you could restrict replies to your tweets to those that you follow or those that you mention in the tweet, like Steven Pinker does.
Regarding the depression, have you considered or tried treatment with psychedelics? Trial results are very promising.