if you are suffering severe depressionyou know there’s a moment when you hit rock bottom. I call it a “crash”. Some people call this a “nervous breakdown,” but that expression is very outdated and doesn’t really describe what happens. You crash mentally and physically, and the darkness consumes and cripples you.
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When I woke up this morning, I don’t think I was the only one who didn’t want to move, didn’t want to get out of bed, and didn’t want to face the next day. donald trump He will become President of the United States again. As I lay there suffering, I thought back to when I had depression. There was a first wave of illness, which subsided a little, but then everything came back with a vengeance. Like playing cards.
It’s never easy to pick yourself up and try to move forward when you’re feeling down. For me, recovery took years and was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone through. my 60 years. It took immense strength to face the demons, it took steely resilience to fight without shame and to come out of the darkness and find the light.
I’m not going to sugarcoat it. For our community, moving forward in the era of Trump 2.0 will require strength, resilience, and fight. I believe that the results that shocked us on Election Day last year were the beginning of a gradual decline in our morale, decency, and hope for light. The “crash” came today.
We all knew this moment would come, but to see it President Joe Biden It was no less unpleasant to stand aside during President Trump’s oath of office. There will be unwanted changes in the way this country treats marginalized communities. Seeing the rich and powerful sitting together at the inauguration tells you everything you need to know about who will be prioritized in Trump II’s administration.
Today was definitely our downfall day as we watched Trump be sworn in again and heard another disgusting speech that only solidified the darkness he brings. That inaugural address was amazing, frightening, and eerie, and it could aptly describe how we feel about what’s in front of us.
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President Trump believes America’s decline is “over.” For many of us, it’s just the beginning. He was “saved by God to make America great again.” Even if God saved him for that (which I don’t), I don’t believe in God. For Trump, today is “Liberation Day.” For us, it’s “Suppression Day.” Giving Trump back “free speech” means hate speech for us, and removing social engineering for Trump means removing safety barriers for us.
Inaugural speeches, by their nature and history, should be uplifting. How many of you are feeling depressed and defeated after what you heard today?
And no matter how tough it seems, and frankly it’s almost impossible, no matter how difficult the road ahead seems, no matter how weary and tired we are, no matter how exhausted we feel, no matter how weak we feel to move forward. we have to press on. . That’s the only way we can survive and see the light from the other side.
We have fought hard for years to carve out a space of inclusivity and safety, only to see it come under threat. diversity, equity and inclusion The program will disappear. This was one of the first executive orders President Trump signed today that would eliminate federal DEI programs. It was a deliberate slap in the face to us.
What happens when you say DEI programs are wrong is that you send the message that anyone who is not white, straight, cisgender, or male is not welcome in government or anywhere else in society.
president ronald reagan Trump was known for trickle-down economics, and Trump will be known for trickle-down discrimination. We will see hate speech gain more momentum and hate crimes become more brazen. Their echoes resonate with a chilling sense of daring brutality.
The acceptance we have fought for so long and struggled to achieve is now in danger of being branded as “woke.” This word is used as a weapon of ridicule, especially by those who find their power in rejecting our humanity. for LGBTQ+ Individuals, this is not just political. It is deeply personal and a direct challenge to our existence and the dignity we have so tenaciously claimed for decades.
But history teaches us that resilience is written in our bones. We have been on the front lines of this battle. AIDSa crisis that has destroyed our communities and taken away the greatest number of our brightest souls. We stood up to inequality, demanded visibility, and earned the right to love. to get married openlyto serve our country Without hiding who we are.
I have no doubt that over the next four years there will be efforts to take away all these rights that we have gained. That’s why we were huddled under our covers this early morning. What President Reagan called “America’s morning” for us is now “America’s mourning” for the threat of a storm that threatens to destroy everything we have accomplished.
These victories were not without their scars. The next four years will definitely leave a mark on us. But those scars are evidence of our strength, our unwavering commitment to justice, and our ability to stand up.
For me, overcoming severe depression has been a unique struggle. There were days when I didn’t think I could do it, and two days when I wanted to get it all done. However, putting aside my humble feelings, I was able to overcome this with a lot of help from the people around me.
That’s what we need. An unwavering determination to stay the course and to wrap our arms around each other. Alone we can accomplish much, but collectively we can soar and roar.
And we brace ourselves for the next four years. We will continue to support each other, resist the tide of exclusion, and seek a future that does not succumb to hatred. Together, we will step out into the light. Because we always have, because we have to, and because it’s the only way we’ll survive.
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If you or someone you know is in need of mental health resources or support, call, text or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit:988lifeline.org Get access to our free and confidential service 24/7. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender nonconforming individuals, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. This lifeline also provides resources to address other crises, such as domestic violence. The Trevor Project Lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth (24 and under) can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at: TheTrevorProject.org/Help Or text START to 678678.
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