Posts by Laurel Hermanson

When people publicly share their personal experiences of depression, I feel encouraged. I see fellow sufferers expressing gratitude that they no longer feel alone. But I often wonder if non-depressed people are even listening to this conversation. So I’m going to explain what depression is like based on my experience, and ask you to try to envision what the spiral feels like.

If you spend any time on the Internet, you’ve likely participated in the conversation about weight and body image. “Lose weight and look great!” “Love your body just the way it is!” I find both messages tiresome. Where in this “conversation” is there room for individuals to have their own feelings, independent of what other women (and men) insist is the “correct” way to think about one’s body?