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I took a few days off here completely and have been far less engaged in the days since. I needed it. As I deal with my depression, I had to spend some time stepping back and focusing on what I needed to do for me. It’s definitely been worth it.
It’s a really tough year. People may be facing mental health issues for the first time in their life, and those who face them regularly may be facing new, more difficult challenges. We need to be cognizant of that — on personal, professional, and governmental levels.
I have good health care, a fantastic medical team, great friends and family, an understanding employer and caring co-workers, and tremendous support across the board — and last week was really tough for me. Countless others lack many of these supports. We need to do better.
Until my therapist said something last week, for the prior month, even though I was diagnosed with bipolar at 20, it hadn’t clicked with me that this was depression. Once we got over that wall, though, I had named where I was at — so I started working to get out.
For me, now, it’s been a lot of outdoor, masked visits with friends; exercise; talking honestly with loved ones about where I’m at; taking care of my sobriety; listening to medical professionals about my prescriptions; getting flowers for myself; and, yes, reducing stress.
After a month or so of gradually feeling worse and worse each day, this weekend I finally starting to feel a little better each day. Though I hope that continues, we don’t know the future. But, I was grateful to be genuinely happy several times this weekend. 
Thanks so much to all of the wonderful family and friends and fellow-travelers (and medical professionals!) who have made this weekend what it was for me.
For everyone, please, be aware of how challenging this moment is for your friends who deal with depression, bipolar, anxiety, or a hundred other mental health diagnoses. Do what you can to make it a better world, country, government, community, workplace, and/or home for us all.
Night, all, and let us try to be good to one another — and ourselves — this week. 
