TWLOHA Day

Today is TWLOHA day. Although it was not started by any of the TWLOHA staff, I feel this is a good opportunity to share. If you know what To Write Love On Her Arms is, you might have seen this before. But if you've seen people wearing the shirts and think it's a band, you should read this. People every day are overcome with depression. Granted there are people falsely claiming depression for attention, there are people out there that are really struggling. When I say struggling, I don't mean wallowing in self pity. I mean struggling in the aspects of not knowing what to do. Not knowing how to deal with it. Turning to drugs. Turning to cutting. In the worst way, turning to suicide. Drugs and cutting are no real solution to depression. Only a short term high that will quickly envelope lives. But sometimes when you are at a desperate point in your life, you will do anything to alleviate the pain. This is what To Write Love On Her Arms is trying to overcome.

Although depression comes from various symptoms and happenings in people's lives, people that rely on addictions as an escape all have one thing in common. A lack of love in their life. They have nobody that comes up to them and shares love with them. They are by themselves. Lost. And that is both a sad thing and also a good thing. The sad being that someone can loose complete control of their life and turn to drugs and cutting because they have no one to show them love. The good news is that love is free. It costs nothing to simply hear someone out and show them that you care. I have been truly amazed at real life examples of people being touched by the love of a complete stranger. Sometimes, people just need to be reminded that they are something. Their life matters to someone else.

So what can you do? What can we do? Sure, you can buy the shirts. You can donate money. That all goes towards the cause. But the biggest impact we can make is just showing more love. There are people in everyone's life suffering from depression. Maybe not to the extremes, but nonetheless not happy with their lives. Just the simple act of caring will go a long way. If you know someone who is to the point of addiction and cutting, talk to them. Don't stand by and watch someone ruin their life. You don't even have to have great advice. Or a solution to the problem. You just have to show some love. Sure, love is not the complete cure. But it's the first step. And the most important step. Also, simply raising awareness. 2 out of 3 people don't talk to anyone about their depression. Your best friend could be in pieces right now. But they don't know what to do, or where to go, or are ashamed to talk about it. By simply raising awareness, people that would never talk to anyone might see an opportunity. Whether they see it as a chance to talk to you, or seek professional help, just simply telling people that there is help, and there are people who care can go a long way.

I am distraught over every suicide that I hear about. Even someone that I never knew and probably never would. What is worse than that is I personally knew people that have committed suicide. All I can think is...it could have been stopped. Someone could have done something. I could have done something. But no one did. No one wanted to listen. The fact that someone ended their own life because they didn't feel loved breaks me up. I can't stand by and let that happen. It's not a joke. It's not something to ridicule. It's not a time to look down on someone. It's a time to lift them up.

It’s estimated that 19 million people live with depression in America, and suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 18-24 years old. It's my goal to make an impact. Even one life would be worth everything in the world to me. How will you help change the world? How will you help change a life?

I am not a specialist. I am not a counselor. But if you are depressed or know someone who is, my email address is mattdgn@hotmail.com. My twitter name is @battmarnes. My facebook page is facebook.com/battmarnes. My aim screen name is famoussas87. Choose your option. Talk to me. I might not be good at giving advice or be able to solve your problem. I'll promise you this, though. I will listen. I will care. And I will do all I can to let you know that I do. I can also relay you to someone who truly can help. And show you some really good music that could cure you of swine flu.

To read more by people who write a lot better than I do, including the story that started it all (I suggest you at least read that)...
http://www.twloha.com/index.php