In a moving post, former federal prosecutor Ken White, chief contributor to the libertarian-leaning law blog Popehat, speaks about his recent hospitalization and his battle with mental illness.
Every time I write about depression, I feel like I’m having the naked-at-school dream, exposed and poised for incoming ridicule. No matter how often I say that depression is nothing to be ashamed of, and how sincerely I believe it in my head, my gut tells me otherwise. But every time I write about depression, I get emails from people thanking me for talking openly about the subject and for describing what it’s like. And, as I said, I’m only here because of the decency of others. I owe back. I owe back more than I can possibly repay. A little squeamishness doesn’t weigh much in the balance.
So here we are. I’m Ken, and though I live an outwardly “normal,” high-functioning and successful life, I suffer from grave anxiety and depression, and last year it got bad enough that I was hospitalized “voluntarily” for it.2 Maybe you suffer, or maybe you love somebody who suffers, or maybe you want to understand depression and anxiety more so you can support people who suffer. I want to share some things I’ve learned in the course of a harrowing experience, in hope that it might help someone, even a little.
Click here to read the rest.
And in case you were wondering about the name, there’s this explanation at the About page:
We do receive questions about the name. The name “Popehat” derives from an inside joke not particularly funny to those not in the know. It is in no way intended to mock, disparage, or praise the Roman Catholic Church or its pontiff, a subject on which we remain officially agnostic.
Image: Courtesy Popehat
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