My heart breaks for her and the lonely journey she must take through that which will lead a person through the darkest of places, but I’m so impressed that Marian Keyes has been brave enough to come out and speak openly about the current battle she is having with depression. Although I get the impression that it’s not really bravery in her eyes; it’s just telling it like it is.

I love it when people who have any kind of fame in the world are open and truthful about the real life issues that affect them. Not because it makes them more real in a sappy, badly written romantic fiction kind of manner, but because it normalises real life for real people. Marian Keyes has been honest about her alcoholism before and has said that she struggles with depression, although this round with the Black Dog appears to be knocking her around a fair bit.

There is nothing wrong in getting a mental illness. You don’t need to hide your condition, you don’t need to be ashamed. Admitting to having an illness isn’t (shouldn’t) be seen as a slur on your character or abilities.  That evil beast that we call depression can take a side swipe at even you, leaving you gasping for air, wondering if there is life beyond what you see and feel right now. Hearing from people society says are all that and a bag of chips  suffer as you do makes you feel, well, cliche as it is, not so alone.

I do hope that Marian’s battle will be over sooner rather than later.

I also hope that it is Marian who comes out the victor of the overall war.