Spiritual Author Sharon Fawcett Writes In
Sharon Fawcett, Canadian author of Hope for Wholeness: The Spiritual Path to Freedom From Depression, wrote to TTWS about the Ask Amy post.
I was once the depressed spouse causing my family much stress and heartache. During my nine years of clinical depression (and 80 weeks in psychiatric wards) I was blessed to have a husband who took his marriage vows seriously and remained committed to me with a love beyond affection. Many would have left a marriage that didn’t meet their needs, and a partner who was unable to contribute anything to the relationship. My husband sacrificed much to stay with me and care for me (and our young daughters), and his steadfast love gave me the strength to endure depression.
I cannot speak for the man who is the subject of the letter to Dear Amy, but I suspect his illness is causing him to make these decisions that are difficult for his family. I know what it’s like to be so depressed that you just want to run away, and to feel as though your daily presence is a burden to your family. This notion nearly led me to suicide. Maybe the reader in Oregon should be grateful her husband is choosing to move out for a brief time, rather than to permanently end his life.
For all those who love someone with depression, I’d recommend Anne Sheffield’s book, How You Can Survive When They’re Depressed.
Thanks for sharing, Sharon.
liz | 11:21 AM | Uncategorized
Sharon was fortunate to have someone who was so supportive. It says nothing less about her personal efforts in dealing with depression but I know too many persons who suffer from depression and other mental illnesses who have no one. It is not surprising that one of the frequently listed quality of life issues raised by persons who have a long standing mental illnesses is isolation. Sadly, I have ceased to be surprised by the number of mental health consumers who can go into considerable detail about the medications they have taken, the programs they have been in, and their hospitalizations, yet can’t cite the last time someone hugged them.
I suppose it is possible to get better sans meaningful human contact but for the life of me, I don’t see how. Long past the Era of Evidence Based Practices and well into the Era of Recovery and Wellness, isn’t there a place for a hug?
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