" We Wear The Mask of Depression"

"We wear the mask that grins and lies,

It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes,—

This debt we pay to human guile;

With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties",     Paul Laurence Dunbar

Many people who struggle with cyclical depression often say that they are fine when they are really not.  For individuals who are living with depression, asking the question "How are you?" may be a complicated question to answer. Individuals may struggle with telling the truth or their perception of telling people what they think they might want to hear.  Well the truth of the matter is, is that most people want to know how you feel.  Your doctor, therapist, friends, neighbors and loved ones truly want to know if you are TRULY okay!

Letting people know how you are truly feeling opens up the door for their support and assistance. They may be having a similar experience to yours and having someone to share their experience could open the door for healing for them.  Social support is critical in managing our lives.  An important part of receiving help is asking for it.

Paul Laurence. Dunbar, "“We Wear the Mask.”" from The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar. (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, )

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44203/we-wear-the-mask