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Two Broken Legs

It’s as if your legs are broken. That’s what the psychiatrist said. It’s hard, it’s painful and it forces you to trust on the support of your environment. The mere fact that it is necessary to compare mental illness with physical complaints actually proves that those two differ from each other. Compared to the broken legs, mental illness is invisible and therefore less comprehendible for the outside world.

Some people have broken legs. Other people suffer from depression. Both conditions are hard and painful. Without help they will not heal. With broken legs you go to the hospital. You get X-rays, see a doctor and eventually heal with time and plaster. With a depression you go to a psychologist, psychiatrist or a mental health hospital. You talk, see professionals and heal eventually with time, rest, hard work and perhaps medication.

My psychiatrist was right. The comparison stands strong. But there are days I wished it were only two broken legs. Then my pain would be visible. Then people would understand. When it comes to mental illness, the prejudice is immense. I notice this in discussions with peers, I notice this in discussions with my environment.

While broken legs are seen as simple accidents, a depression is often understood as your own responsibility. As if the fatigue and restlessness are things you choose. As if depression is a sign of weakness. But that’s not what it is! Healing from a depression requires so much strenght, so much energy, so much self-reliance. It’s a long way and it’s hard work.

But in the end: what’s the difference with those broken legs. The pain is real, the illness both accidental – it can happen to everyone. Healing requires time, but is always possible. With time, rest, patience and hard work, the fracture will heal and so will the hole in your soul. Incomprehension on the other hand brings us nowhere.