As part of a new online series called “On Your Mind,” DU MIND, in partnership with the Clarion, is accepting personal works about mental health. Selected works will be published in the Clarion’s online lifestyles section. Submissions may include: narratives, poetry, personal illustrations or any other personal work. Pieces can be submitted here. To submit anonymously, use the following information as your own when prompted by Dropbox:

First Name: Anon
Last Name: Submit
Email: anonymoussubmissionsdu@gmail.com

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The days I cannot get out of bed often look like “migraines” and “stomach flus”

I’m afraid to say what I really have

Society screams “END THE STIGMA”

But a month later yells at me “why are you always using your depression as an excuse???”

I am afraid of a world that doesn’t stop moving

Even as I’m begging for a break to heal

The world screams “I need more more MORE”

I scream back, “I’m giving you all I have, please!”

I am tired all of the time

The exhaustion never ends

I want relief from the weight that is continuously crushing in my chest

The sadness that never leaves

No relief comes

Not with pills, not with therapy, not with drugs

Not with fake friendships or pseudo love

The world doesn’t stop turning, even when you beg for it to

So the “migraines” and “stomach flus”?

They continue.