Depressy a Bit?

During a recent bout of depression I went to the Internet out of what I guess was desperation and boredom to try to find some humor in depression. I found this: “When depressed people make fun of depression, they aren’t necessarily minimizing it—they’re humanizing it. They’re showing that even in the darkness, there’s room for irony, absurdity, and even laughter.” My kind of humor!

Teens do not seem to be having any problem coming up with a creative, if not humorous, words and phrases for depression. Actually, it is sad that they have to come up with different euphemisms for mental health in order to talk with their friends about it without being “heard” by teachers, parents, and social media moderators. So while I know that this reflects on the sad and serious stigma of mental illness, these euphemisms made me smile or even laugh at myself a little bit:

“Depressy” - commonly used phrase that it is meant to be darkly humorous (that’s my kind of phrasing).

“Grippy Sock Vacation” - you don’t have to spend time on a psych unit wearing said footwear to understand this one. Any hospital visit will do.

“Sewerslide” - not only rhymes with “ suicide” but sneaks past social media moderators and eerily describes what it really feels like.

“I had pasta tonight” and “I finished my shampoo and conditioner at the same time” - both are code phrases for someone experiencing suicidal thoughts.

Using humor to talk about mental health doesn’t mean I am making fun of mental illness. I want it to be more approachable, less taboo, and sometimes just survivable. Apparently people out there are talking about it. The rest of us are still learning what to listen for. But do not worry, I am not eating pasta (oh, those carbs…) and I just bought a new bottle of shampoo that smells like tar (oh, that Parkinson’s dandruff…).

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts don’t hesitate to reach out and tell someone. The national suicide prevention hotline is available 24/7. Call or text 988, or visit the website at 988hotline.org to chat online.