Mum shares touching post of 'what depression looks like'
A US mother’s raw post on Facebook has gone viral, after sharing an ordinary photo of her kitchen that represents an extraordinary battle against depression.
Brittany Ernsperger, from the US state of Indiana, shared a picture on Facebook of her kitchen sink piled high with freshly-washed dishes.
“This is what depression looks like,” she wrote.
“No. Not the clean dishes. But that there were that many dishes in the first place; that I’ve gone two weeks without doing them.
“Three days ago I sat on the kitchen floor and stared at them while I cried. I knew they needed to be done. I wanted to do them so bad.
“But depression pulled me under. It sucked me in. Like a black hole. Rapidly, sinking quick-sand.”
Ms Ernsperger, who talks openly about her struggles with depression and anxiety, said everyday tasks like laundry, taking a shower and even brushing her teeth would become a “nightmare”.
She described how the pile of dishes became so big, that soon there were no clean plates or cookware left in the house, forcing her to order takeaway for her family.
“I walked by them morning and night and all day long. And just looked at them. Telling myself that I could do them. Telling myself that I would. And feeling defeated every day that I didn’t. Making the depression only that much worse because not accomplishing something that needs to be done is failure.
“Worthless. Failure. Piece of shit. Incompetent. Stupid. Lazy.
“All things that roll through the mind of someone with depression. All. Day. Long.”
The mum-of-four said her anxiety would kick in as she began to worry about her husband leaving her because he might think of her as “lazy”.
In the post, she reaches out people who experience similar feelings and encourages them not to feel like a “failure”.
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“I don’t even care if the only thing you did today, was put deodorant on. I’m proud of you for it. Good job. I’m in your corner. I’m on your side,” she wrote.
In just three days, Ms Ernsperger’s post has been shared more than 160,000 times, generating hundreds of comments from people around the world.
“I have felt like this on and off for most of my life. It is a daily struggle,” one woman wrote.
“That is exactly how I feel with other issues too. Thank you for sharing what I was unable to say,” another said.
“I’ve never been diagnosed with depression but I feel like I wrote this myself,” another viewer said.
Ms Ernsperger said her aim is to raise awareness for mental illness and wrote in a follow up post that she has been “humbled” by all the messages of support.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
