Emily's Crochet Mandala + Loving a Depression Sufferer

Yesterday’s crochet mandala by Kirstie came in a package with another mandala – today’s contribution by Emily. It looks like they used the same Stylecraft Special DK yarn to make their crochet mandalas, but while Kirstie used Wink’s I Love Holland crochet mandala pattern, Emily used her Summer Hearts mandala pattern. Emily lives on the South Coast of England, near to Southampton, and can be found as emog on Instagram.

She shares,

“Depression awareness is very important to me because my younger sister is a sufferer. There have been some very dark times when she has been desperate. My sister has learnt coping strategies to help. She’s not interested in making things, although she is good at it. She has made cards and painted before. What does help is running, something I have tried to share with her.”

“Being a loved one of a depression sufferer is very hard. I have had to deal with a lot. This evil illness wreaks havoc on everyone it touches. It makes me so sad that I still take a deep breath before I answer the phone to my sister.”

“Thank you so much for organizing this exhibition. Everyone should be talking about it. Someone so full of colour and creativity as Wink has lost her battle and if you haven’t lived with depression it’s difficult to understand why. I’m not sure even I understand, yet. But I’m starting to.

“I spent a lot of time angry with my sister for making me feel awful. I’m so sad about this. I realize that depression was the one. I’m angry with depression. We’ve lost a lot of years to it.

Since having my children, I have suffered from severe PMS, something I have been getting treatment for. My understanding of mental health is increasing, but still there is so much I don’t get.”

I really appreciate what Emily has shared her and want to reiterate this important point that she’s made … that loving someone who is suffering from depression is really hard, and it can be really natural to get angry with that person because you feel awful as a result of the state that they are in and the way it can make them behave … but that it’s important to remember that it’s depression causing the issue and that you must work together to battle the depression, rather than battling each other because of it. Regardless of what works for your depressed love one (running vs. crafting in this example), it’s much better if you can work together to find the answers. (And remember to take care of your self in the process!!)

This is one of the posts made in honor of Wink, in celebration of crochet mandalas and to raise depression awareness. See all Mandalas for Marinke posts here.