How to Stop a Conversation:
Published 19 Mar 2006
Mention that you have depression.
One of the reasons I still can’t put into words my feelings about SXSW this year is that the project I’m most excited about at the moment had the effect of causing folks to run away from me as soon as possible after hearing about it. This is not good for networking.
I guess I should not have been surprised by the reaction, but I was. Partially because I’m sure that at least half of the folks that reacted that way also have depression. Partially because since I have found that talking about it is much more healthy than denying it, I assume that everyone else is on the same page. They aren’t.
That fact is the reason why I think Jangly Ganglia as a community project, rather that as just my own means of coping, is important. Mental health issues need to overcome the stigma attached to them, and the only way that is going to happen is if we all stop denying them.
I am no activist. I have tried to be an activist for a couple of different issues in the past, and it just doesn’t work for me. But I see an opportunity for a kind of “stealth” activism here— we can use the crazy-easy publishing power of blogs and the community potential of the web for our own benefit— to help us focus on the postive in life— and just by the fact that the site is there be helping to reduce the stigma that we all face.
The great thing about this is that it allows each particular person to be anonymous if they so choose, which may crucially important factor in the decision to talk about depression. But even being anonymous, you would be part of a community that is furthering understanding of your issues.
And I find the project easy to do; I have been spending about 5 minutes a day on posts. That is a small chunk of time, and it has has a had huge payoff for me.
Anyway, I am excited about this project and wanted to tell everyone I met at SXSW about it. I didn’t really accomplish what I set out to do there, hence this post. I have recently won a license and hosting package that will allow me to get this project off the ground and keep it non-profit and expense-free for me. If you are interested in joining the project, please see this post over at Jangly and get in touch.
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In: Cocoa on the Couch
This is the section that contains all of my personal articles — sometimes sweet, sometimes bitter — it’s good to have a fire going and a cat purring in your lap when you read these.
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Carbon offsets! Just what I always wanted!
I’ve been besieged at work with what seems like a million different “opportunities” for donating to someone’s pet charity of choice this holiday season. However, when I give, I like …More »
Margarita on the Rocks
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Yes. Yes she did.
It has been so damn long that I feel like I sould be writing something deep and earth shattering, but I don’t have it in me. …More »
Commentary
Hayo Bethlehem writes
Mar 19 at 06:28 PM #
Sad to hear people aren’t as open minded as you hoped! I think it’s a great project, and I hope you have lots of fun setting it up!
Andrea writes
Mar 20 at 08:46 AM #
Thanks Hayo! If nothing else, it is useful for me, and I’ll keep doing it and telling people about it. :)
Elaine writes
Mar 21 at 02:27 AM #
I’m sorry you got less-than-positive responses. I’d like to participate, very much so…I think these efforts are critical in improving (saving?) lives.
goodwitch writes
Mar 29 at 04:51 AM #
well, i for one love your honesty and think that we are all warped!
Andrea writes
Apr 1 at 03:57 AM #
Yes, we are definitely all warped… :)
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