Depression is Not Sadness Painting

Depression affects many people, but I feel it is still misunderstood even by people who have it. I experienced this several times as a mental health professional. The following poem inspired this painting: Depression is not sadness; it is being buried in dreams of anxiety and pain It is staring at the same page of a book and not even hearing the rain Depression is not sadness; it is wanting someone there but having nothing to say It is not feeling the wind on a cool breezy day It is staring at the ceiling, watching the fan ocillate It is face down in the couch under a boulder’s weight Depression is not sadness; when you feel like a burden, no one can hear you cry And you wouldn’t have an answer if they asked you why The shower stays bone dry The sun rises and sets behind the curtains you close The moon looks down on you with its soft, milky glow Caresses your hair and all the oil it’s grown Depression is not sadness; it is waiting without a clock and existing is a chore It is being chained to the bottom of the ocean floor Going up or going down on the same elevator Depression is not sadness Do I end it all now, or later? C. L. J. I chose a surrealistic style of painting because mental health issues can often feel unreal and unexplainable to others. Details: The sides of the canvas are gessoed, but not painted. A wire will be attached to the painting for hanging convenience