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	&#39;As mad as a brush&#39; &ndash; a phrase so frequently uttered, one would think it was harmless.</h2>
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		As a person who lives with depression it&#39;s a phrase I hate, even if it is mostly a throwaway remark and not meant to wound.</p>
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		Though I am currently well and happy, I have experienced anxiety, low self-esteem and regular episodes of depression since childhood. I was well aware that there was a stigma attached to openly talking about one&#39;s struggles, and for most of my life this fed the aloneness of my condition.</p>
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		With a significant proportion of society at odds with the real me, as I saw it, hiding my illness became more important than recovery and seeking help. I felt I had to tell lies as to why I missed classes, work shifts and social events when I was unable to get out of bed, or leave the house. I was tormented not only by depression, but by the web of deception I wove to shield myself from the humiliation of judgment whilst desperately trying to appear &#39;normal&#39;.</p>
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		A life-threatening bout of post-natal depression in my mid-30s thankfully resulted in a successful&nbsp;<a href="http://searchtopics.independent.ie/topic/Path.com" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em; color: rgb(92, 139, 63); margin-bottom: 0px !important;">path</a>&nbsp;to recovery. With a balance of medication and regular therapy, I came to better understand how my mind operates and how to care for myself to avoid being derailed again.</p>
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		I found the act of opening up to colleagues, neighbours and new friends to be a valued part of my recovery. Despite the fact that some treated me differently &ndash; as if I was permanently on the verge of a breakdown &ndash; I came to appreciate what my therapist referred to as &quot;living a more authentic life&quot;.</p>
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		Today, I am capable, high-functioning and wiser for the experience.</p>
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		What continues to trouble me though, is a distinct lack of comprehension of mental illness &ndash; which the cold, hard facts of recent research would support.</p>
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		The twisted darkness of depression is as difficult to describe and understand.</p>
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		Depression is the &#39;frenemy&#39; that drags me down to the depths of despair, becoming my cell-mate and pulling me back from escaping when the door is open. If recovery was as simple as pressing a button right next to my index finger, the dark cloud would envelop my logic and stop me &ndash; convincing me that I belong in this unbearable hell-hole.</p>
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		So how could I expect a person who hasn&#39;t experienced depression to understand? Sure didn&#39;t it take more than 20 years to grasp it myself?</p>
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			This gap in understanding, and the resulting widespread opinion of people with mental illnesses, is taking its toll &ndash; evidenced by the rising suicide rate in this country.</p>
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			There are many people struggling out there who are afraid to ask for help for fear of being branded as a pathetic figure that is failing at life.</p>
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			If the likes of Alan Farrell, a&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 1em;">F</span><span style="font-size: 1em;">ine Gael</span>&nbsp;TD, who apologised after issuing a tweet that Sinead O&#39;Connor was &quot;mad as a brush&quot; really &#39;got it&#39;, they would not make pariahs of those brave enough to openly seek support. They would not expect us to keep it all in, so as to save everyone the awkwardness of a fellow human being&#39;s vulnerability.</p>
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			We fear what we do not understand &ndash; from those grappling with a mental illness to the people who mock and disregard them. Just as those with unacceptable waistlines, bust lines and noses are often treated with contempt, we with &#39;imperfect&#39; minds can be equally disenfranchised.</p>
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			So my plea to anyone who regards individuals with mental disorders as &#39;mad as a brush&#39;, &#39;not the full shilling&#39; or &#39;feeling sorry for themselves&#39;, is to consider that perhaps they have enough on their plates without the fear of stigma.</p>
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			A person dealing with a mental illness deserves the same dignity and sympathy you would proffer the physically ill. As Sinead says, you wouldn&#39;t dream of referring, even in jest, to anyone as a &quot;cancerous idiot&quot;.</p>
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			And you don&#39;t have to understand to act with compassion.</p>
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			<em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; font-size: 1em;">&#39;Mind Yourself&#39; runs from October 6-13.&nbsp;</em><em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;">See www.independent.ie/mindyourself</em></p>
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			<em style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px !important;"><a href="http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/aisling-oconnor-i-live-with-depression-i-am-not-mad-as-a-brush-29649124.html">http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/aisling-oconnor-i-live-with-depression-i-am-not-mad-as-a-brush-29649124.html</a></em></p>
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