Depression

It is completely normal to feel upset or down occasionally, however depression is an illness that is much more serious, it can last years and can cause emotional and physical symptoms.  Some symptoms of depression are

• you can’t sleep or you sleep too much
• you can’t concentrate or find that previously easy tasks are now difficult
• you feel hopeless and helpless
• you can’t control your negative thoughts, no matter how much you try
• you have lost your appetite or you can’t stop eating
• you are much more irritable and short-tempered than usual
• you have thoughts that life is not worth living
• Constant sadness
• low self esteem
• reduced sex drive

When I was a little younger, just a couple of years ago growing up as a gay teenager I suffered from depression, most of the memories I have tried to block out but I hated myself I had countless suicidal thoughts but thankfully I didn't have the confidence to actually go through with them, but my life totally changed during my depression, I left the family home to share a flat with my cousin but the living arrangements there annoyed me so I moved out again into a house of my own.  I left college and took a full time position at one of my places of work but then a couple of months later I got annoyed with that job too so four years after starting there as a part timer I left and took a full time position at my other job in a pub, I tried deliberately to change my whole life just to try and create a life that I might actually enjoy I was inches away from moving away from my home town all together as I started trying to find away to run away and completely start over.

Thankfully things got better, I still work in the same pub and I actually sort of enjoy my life now.  So if you are going through this then please don't do anything stupid I promise it does get better.

If you are suffering from depression I would suggest going to a doctor as there are treatments available.

Gay Teen Suicides Update

I have talked about gay teen suicides before but I thought I would do an update about what is happening now.

Tyler Clementi (Age 18) from New Jersey jumped from the George Washington bridge and died after his roommate secretly filmed him having sex with another man then broadcast it online.  Tyler's parents are said to have filed a notice to sue Rutgers University for failing to implement policies to prevent the invasion of privacy.  A spokesman from the university said that they were sympathetic to the family but it was not responsible for Tyler's death.

Seth Walsh (Age 13) died 9 days after hanging himself from a tree in his garden, Seth's mother made a heartbreaking video in which she read out Seth's suicide note and she talked about him and his situation at school where not only  fellow students bullied him but so did some of the teachers, and although other teachers knew about it including the vice principle they done nothing to help, they just didn't care (View Below).  Now Federal Education Officers are investigating the suicide.  Apparently the officers spent 2 days interviewing teachers, administrators and students.

If you are being bullied please don't harm yourself, remember people love you and although it may seem hard to believe now it will get better.  If you need to call someone then there are helplines everywhere.

Call  08457 90 90 90 in the UK & Northern Ireland.

Call 1850 60 90 90 in the Republic of Ireland

Call the Trevor Project on 866488 - 7386 or visit www.thetrevorproject.org in the US