First of all: I read all of this. Both what you wrote and what the author wrote.
The article conveys well how huge the problem of depression is; most of the analysis quoted within it of what depression is seems to touch on truth, or at least jibe with what I've seen in the people I've known who've been depressed. I don't know if I've ever been truly depressed, but I have been frustrated and down many times; I'm loath to say I'm depressed because I've known many people who have clinical, diagnosed cases of it. And -- difficult detail alert -- I know at least one person who did commit suicide due to depression.
I've seen depression enough to, I think, be aware if its warning signs, so I can be there for friends who are living through it. My tendency to be an emotional sponge can become an issue, but I try to be extra-aware of where the difficult feelings are coming from. Were I not aware of how I can be a sponge, I might have more problems of my own...and also not be as good a friend as my friends need when they're dealing with depression. I wouldn't be as good at noticing what they're feeling. Empathy: it has its own difficulties, but ultimately I glad I have some empathy.
Moments of clarity can be hard-fought no matter how you get to them. I've gotten to them from grief, from frustration, from having a deep crush on somebody at a time when I wasn't working and thus had no money but plenty of time to just walk all over Portland pondering how the hell I felt about her. But I've gotten to those moments of clarity, and I've felt the relief of finding an answer, or even just part of an answer. May more people find relief.
There is probably more that can be said, but I do want to get this sent out so people can read it.
May you and the rest of us find the good kind of peace.
no subject
The article conveys well how huge the problem of depression is; most of the analysis quoted within it of what depression is seems to touch on truth, or at least jibe with what I've seen in the people I've known who've been depressed. I don't know if I've ever been truly depressed, but I have been frustrated and down many times; I'm loath to say I'm depressed because I've known many people who have clinical, diagnosed cases of it. And -- difficult detail alert -- I know at least one person who did commit suicide due to depression.
I've seen depression enough to, I think, be aware if its warning signs, so I can be there for friends who are living through it. My tendency to be an emotional sponge can become an issue, but I try to be extra-aware of where the difficult feelings are coming from. Were I not aware of how I can be a sponge, I might have more problems of my own...and also not be as good a friend as my friends need when they're dealing with depression. I wouldn't be as good at noticing what they're feeling. Empathy: it has its own difficulties, but ultimately I glad I have some empathy.
Moments of clarity can be hard-fought no matter how you get to them. I've gotten to them from grief, from frustration, from having a deep crush on somebody at a time when I wasn't working and thus had no money but plenty of time to just walk all over Portland pondering how the hell I felt about her. But I've gotten to those moments of clarity, and I've felt the relief of finding an answer, or even just part of an answer. May more people find relief.
There is probably more that can be said, but I do want to get this sent out so people can read it.
May you and the rest of us find the good kind of peace.