Disturbed vocalist David Draiman has made it no secret that he's been struggling with mental health lately. In a recent interview with The Charismatic Voice, Draiman opened up about his struggles with people not understanding depression and offered some uplifting words to those who are going through similar battles.
"People classically have viewed [depression] as a weakness. 'Now, why can't you use logic and reason and the beauty that you're surrounded by in your life to dispel what's happening to you?' It's 'cause it's not under your control. Logic and reason don't respond to it. You can make all the sense in the world; what's happening to you doesn't make sense.
"It's no different — and I've said this on numerous occasions, and it couldn't be more true — it's no different than cancer. You don't have control over cancer. It eats away at you from the inside; it metastasizes, if you allow it to. And you can't be blamed for depression, or addiction even, for that matter, any more than you can for contracting cancer or some other debilitating disease. You don't want it. You're not asking for me. You're not too weak, and that's why you succumb to it. It's out of your control."
Draiman previously addressed his own struggles on stage at a show in St. Louis, bringing the crowd together during a particularly emotional speech.
"A reason to fight. We all need one. The demons that are known as addiction and depression are very, very real. They are diseases no different than cancer. You can't see depression. You can't see addiction. It festers inside. It metastasizes, takes over your body and mind, your soul.
"And I don't know about you, but I'm tired of losing everybody I love to depression and addiction. Every single bandmember on this stage has dealt with those feelings, with those demons. And I miss the friends that we've lost. I miss Chester [Bennington, singer of Linkin Park], I miss Scott [Weiland, singer of Stone Temple Pilots] I miss Chris [Cornell, singer/guitarist of Soundgarden.]
"And if I can be completely honest with you, a couple months ago, I almost joined them. Addiction and depression can happen to anyone ladies and gentlemen. No one is immune from it no matter how beautiful their life may look from the outside.
"No matter how blessed they may seem. It's out of our control. Now by a show of hands how many of you have dealt with the demons of addiction and depression yourself or know someone that has? Keep 'em up. Now take a look around this arena.
