Comments on: 13 Ways to Help Your Depressed Friend http://bryanleemartin.com/2010/01/27/13-ways-to-help-your-depressed-friend/ Bryan Lee Martin's blog on making a meaningful difference by loving others Sat, 17 Dec 2011 08:16:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: gabrielle http://bryanleemartin.com/2010/01/27/13-ways-to-help-your-depressed-friend/#comment-448 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:50:32 +0000 http://bryanleemartin.com/?p=408#comment-448 hi…thank you for posting this list. i suffer from a brain disease and depression is one sliver of it. i elected to join a christian church on my own when i was a teenager hoping that i would find people who would be accepting of my illness (which unfortunately introduces itself before i ever get a chance to). i have for so long been the victim of stereotypes, isolation, and intolerance and i expected church to be a shelter from that. i could not have been more wrong. i attended weekly services and became very involved in a number of groups, but every time i asked to be a part of a leadership committee within one of those groups, i was denied simply because of my illness. i love that you said that brain diseases (including depression) are diseases just like diabetes–and no one would ever deny a diabetic a leadership role based on his/her condition. the end of my story is that i was verbally abused by both the pastor and assistant pastor at this church and i have since left their body and now consider myself to be spiritual/Buddhist but definitely not religious.
it is really heartwarming for me to hear of peole like you who are in a position of influence and yet still recognize that the struggles of people with mental handicaps are very real and not something anyone should be afraid of or cast judgment upon. believe me, if i could take a pill to cure my illness, i would. i don’t wake up in the morning and ask for an unhealthy body–but it is the only body i have so i do my best to live fully within it.
please, please, please continue to spread this message. personally, i face tremendous discrimination on a daily basis and it is hard to find any sort of refuge. mind you, i’m a very successful professional with normal relationships, a great driving record, talents, and hobbies, and roof over my head to boot. i am in no way “crazy” or “out of it”–just very sick, continually seeking advanced treatment, and perpetually seeking unconditional love.
thank you for this post.
respectfully,
gabrielle

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