The Stigmatization of Deep Emotions

Matt Erickson, a freshman at IU who graduated from Valpo this past spring, committed suicide.

I did not know Matt Erickson, although the fact that he went to Valpo automatically makes me feel like I have a tie to him. While our community is large, when something like this happens, our hearts pulse as one.

Reach out to someone. You never know when someone is in pain. People mask it so well to the point where they look happy and functional. It comes out when you're alone. And being alone becomes a state of comfort because we live in a society where the prolonged expression of deep emotions indicates a flaw. It's something that is severely misunderstood, and misunderstanding and lack of knowledge are the perfect breeding grounds for discomfort.

No one wants to talk about depression or loneliness. But then no one wants to talk about suicide. And at that point it is too late anyway. Talk about it. If you know someone, just talk about it. They want to talk about it. It's a negative feedback loop that needs to stop. Yes, it may be uncomfortable. But you have no idea what it is like to let someone talk about those deep emotions for even a short 10 minutes. You have no idea what it means to them. Be there for someone. These people are more common than you think. Just listen to them.

This is my all time favorite song. I spent a good deal of time about a year ago trying to figure out what song deserved that title. It took awhile, but this one finally won. The actual instrumentals and voice make it an unusual song and entirely unique.  It's about deep emotions. You not only can hear the emotions as she sings, but you can feel them. And ps. I knew this song way before Jason Derulo decided to chop it up.