The Way To The Light
A long time ago, when I was overseas, and living alone in London, I developed
depression. Not that it was recognised or treated properly at the time, but
that's beside the point.
For a while, there was nothing in my life except going to work, and sitting in a
room trying to read a book, and not think about anything at all.
At times, I even contemplated suicide, up to the point of deciding how to actually
do it.
Once you've had depression, there's always a chance that it will return, and it's
one of the loneliest illnesses there is. Nobody could possibly understand......
At least, that's what you think at the time.
For some, there is no way out. I was lucky, because one day I started to think
about it, and this came into my mind:
"If you're at the bottom of a deep dark pit, there is only one way to go, and
that's up and out, towards the light".
That thought was repeated many times, over several years, and it's just as true
today. There are times when I feel the darkness coming back, but now I have
ways of dealing with it. If I can't help myself, then I know where and how to
get help.
If you're depressed, don't try to handle it alone, there's always someone ready
to give you a helping hand. All you have to do is ask, and a person will arrive
ready and willing to lead you to the light.
Comments (11)
Jean DAndrea7
Retired
You're welcome Cheryl! It's that time of the year again........
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Jean, thank you for allowing me to use this. It will go out in Saturday's newsletter. God willing this will help someone alone the way.
David Schupbach7
Hi Jean and everyone, I have been spending a lot of time at my WP blog lately, finding resources and adding links and updates about depression.
I have decided as I write this, to start my 3rd group here at APSense on that subject.
I will update as it becomes available.
Jean DAndrea7
Retired
Hi Lisa,
I've just recently come to realise that there is a lot of truth in the old saying,
"You are what you eat".
Now I'm trying to eat a more balanced diet, and cut out a lot of the sugary
stuff. It'll probably help and I should lose weight too.
Lisa G.9
Health Wellness & Wealth Consultant
I hope your days will be full of Light!
It's nothing to be ashamed of, and thanks for sharing. Everyone has had depression for one reason or another in their life time or suffering with it as we speak.
With depressions on the rise, I hope those in need of help, won't try to hide it and will talk to someone about it.
One thing I would like to mention...and this is not always the case, depression can be brought on by many different aspects, but here is one I would like to mention.
With a
Joseph Botelho15
Working on one project at a time.
This seems to be the time that many suffer from depression, holidays, christmas, winter have hugh effect on our minds it can drive us to a forbidden zone. We need to be strong with our thoughts and have the ability to control them and never allowl them to control us. Easy said but you need to found that ability within yourself to maintain this type of level.
Jean DAndrea7
Retired
Thanks everyone, for your comments.
From what I've seen and heard depression is a lot more common than we think.
Many people don't even know they suffer. If we can help even one person get
out of that dark pit of despair, then we've made a difference.
Joseph Botelho15
Working on one project at a time.
Hi Jean,
I am proud of you that you have the ability to talk about it and describe the events like it was yesterday. I totally understand how you felt and l have been there once also in my life and it was like the end of the world was coming to an end............But in the end our inner mind provides us with the strenght to over come it................So glad you had that ability....................thanks for sharing that with all who read it very powerfull Jean....:)
Beth Schmillen10
You are so fortunate to come thru your depression but I guess it took longer and was more difficult
that it would have been if you'd had therapy or medicine to help you. It is amazing what one focus can do to change your outlook. One phrase that keeps you going. A friend of mine that has depression describes as walking through a heavy liquid... just lifing an arm is exhausting. It isn't dark in that sense. It's numbing I guess. Then there's the depressives (i know a few!) that are on roller coa
Cheryl Baumgartner12
Medical Billing/Coding/Insurance
Many times you depression and how you handle it is needed to help someone handle their own depression. Immediately (within a month) after losing my mother to cancer, a co-worker found out his 39 year old brother has diagnosed with terminal cancer.
He really didn't know of anyone to turn to about his feelings and came to me. I was able to talk to him and help him sort things out. Just remember everything that happens to us in life has a purpose. Even if we don't recognize what that purpose i
David Schupbach7
So true Jean.
I envy those who have never experienced depression. On the other hand, having experienced it first hand, and learned from it, we have the ability to recognize and encourage those who DO have it and are still struggling.
We become the 'experts' so to speak.
I think it's easy to forget or ignore that responsibility, but... 'with great power, comes great responsibility!'
It took me a while to realize that EVERY experience is a blessing, even the ones we don't enjoy!