There's an illness in this world,
That millions don't believe is real,
It's an illness many are ashamed of,
That many try to conceal.
It eats away inside of us,
And pushes us to breaking,
And yet we're repeatedly diminished,
By being accused of faking.
This illness is depression,
A chemical imbalance in the brain,
This illness reaps lives,
And causes endless pain.
Depression isn't a synonym
For sadness or despair,
It's a sickness, a condition,
That is crippling to bare.
Believe what you must,
But think before you speak,
Because your words are an attack,
On those who feel weak.
And while you sit there and argue,
That depression doesn't exist,
Someone's putting a rope around there neck,
Or taking a blade to their wrist.
If we could "cheer up and get over it",
Don't you think we would?
I wish you could walk in our shoes,
And see the world from where we're stood.
You wouldn't tell someone with cancer
To "get up out of bed",
You wouldn't tell someone to "walk it off"
When they've got a broken leg.
you wouldn't tell a blind man,
To "Try harder to see,
You wouldn't judge someone with an illness,
So why are you judging me?
I don't expect you to understand,
But please try to open up your mind,
You could save a life,
Just by being kind.
And to all of you still out there,
Sitting quietly in the dark,
Make today the day of change,
And let this be your spark.
Reach out to your doctor,
Your family, friends or peers,
Because being alone wont help you,
When your walls don't have ears.
Make a promise to me right now,
To those who love you and to yourself,
That you wont suffer in silence any more,
Because there are people out there that want to help.