This luscious crochet mandala is made by Amy (@ambitiousjam) of Akimbo Moon. Amy’s a fun maker who describes herself on Instagram thusly: “A half-British, half-South African obsessive collector of hobbies. Big fan of cake & geekery.”
She writes, “I have been a fan of Wink’s work for a long time. I loved her beautiful photography and use of colour. It hit me really hard when I heard she had died – that someone so talented and kind should feel that there was no other option. I can’t even imagine being in a place that dark and if I can do even this little thing to maybe help someone else see a glimmer, how could I not?”
I’ve just learned about the hashtag #MyDepressionLooksLike, and I’m so glad that people are using this. It’s a way for people to share what depression means for them, in real time, in whatever happens to be happening, in the short form of social media. Looking at the posts as a whole gives a good perspective on what people feel like in depression, or at least some subsection of people who are open to using social media to share this. Of course, you have to sift through some rude posts from people inappropriately using the tag, but for the most part, it’s enlightening, and it could make some people feel less alone.
Some examples from Twitter:
- Jade Tolbert writes, “#mydepressionlookslike nothing because I’m afraid of burdening others with problems in my head I don’t even understand.”
- Disintegrxting writes, “#MyDepressionLooksLike me slowly distancing myself from everyone/everything I once loved, therefore becoming isolated & even more miserable.”
- Sal Brian writes, “#Mydepressionlookslike feeling unloveable. Getting stuck in the past. Using people & things to distract myself & confusing it for happiness.”
- YoungGWhite writes, “#mydepressionlookslike a wide smile cut short because my mind decided to trigger a negative thought while I’m supposed to be having fun.”
- Bree Zorrilla writes, “#MyDepressionLooksLike (looked like?) being sure to post smiling photos of myself so people wouldn’t worry about me.”
- And the beautiful Haley of @zenofmaking shares, “#MyDepressionLooksLike I want to do ALL of the things, but I just can’t do ANY of the things. I sit, I stare, and I’m just so, so tired.”
This post is part of the Mandalas for Marinke remembrance project
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