Depression.
Chances are if you are reading this, you have been touched by someone who is either affected by depression, or you are affected by depression yourself. Depression can become the white elephant in the room, because of reasons that are too numerous to name. Fear is the number reason that comes to my mind.
Fear of the unknown, fear of expressing how things will turn out, fear of talking about the unmentionable keeps depression the topic that nobody talks about, yet almost everybody has felt.
I can say a few things about what depression is not. Depression is not an attack of the people around the sufferer. Depression is not a cry for attention. Depression is not just a sad day that a person can not pull themselves out of. Depression is not just looking at the glass half empty and needing a better attitude.
Depression is a blanket that hangs over a person, racing thoughts that do not end. Thoughts that say “you should do better, you can do better” all while the body can not pull itself out of bed. Depression is a constant companion, as ever present and tangible as a person sitting next to you on the couch.
Depression is not caused from not praying hard enough, a bad spiritual condition or connection with God. Depression is not caused from lack of prayer. Depression is not caused from lack of confession, or letting Satan into one’s life. Depression is not a spiritual condition at all.
Depression is not contagious. While it can be sad to watch a person in a state that looks unrepairable, it can not be caught like the common flu. Words can not fix depression, sometimes not even a hug can. But a hug helps.
What helps depression? Time, understanding and empathy. Knowledge that the sufferer isn’t doing it on purpose, nor is particularly enjoying themselves either.
Thank God depression doesn’t last forever.
