Depression Talk

OK, I’m going to do the YouTube Clip of the Week early this week because I barely know if I’m coming or going. In one sense, it helps my self-esteem to land such a huge web content job. On the other hand, my depression symptoms have worsened due to the challenges of the job.

I’ve landed a huge (and lucrative) assignment to do 664 biographies of Australian actors and actresses. (Yes, there are at least 664 of them). Doing the first lot, I’ve barely been able to scrape together passable yet mostly non-existant info on such Oz luminaries as Adam Cockburn, Aden Young, Alan Cassell and Alan Hopgood.

Now, the last one of that list, Alan Hopgood, is better known as a playwright than he is an actor. This scene I discovered on YouTube while trying to find information on Alan Hopgood’s childhood and schooling. It’s from one of his plays, “A Pill, A Pump and a Needle” which is about three women who suddenly come down with diabetes.

However, this scene is more about depression than it is about diabetes. Granted, the main character talking is not only going through Type 2 diabetes, but also menopause. The depression she describes was most likely triggered by her ill health and it may go away when she finishes her menopause and gets some control over her diabetes.

But it is still a good description of the lows you can hit when you are in a funk or (as I call them ) a jag. Hope you enjoy it:

One of the reasons people with any type of depression do not want to try to get help is because they are afraid they will be shunned for the rest of their lives. Depression is a mental illness, but an illness is an illness. It can be temporary or chronic.

Which leads to the next point of why a depressive may be reluctant to seek help. They may be convinced that any mental illness cannot be helped. “One nuts — always nuts!” They may also be convinced that their particular case is hopeless, so what’s the point of spending the time, energy and money seeking professional help?

The Point

The point is that there are no hopeless cases (as Dr. Abraham Low said). Also, just because you have depression does not mean you are doomed to be miserable 24/7 for the rest of your life. There are many options available to help relieve the suffering and eventually find some enjoyment in life again.

Having a mental illness like depression does not mean you have a major character flaw. It does not mean you have been cursed by God. It just means you have a mental illness. Any illness can be treated — whether it’s the symptoms or the root cause.

Riding the Wave

Depression is a great sea of frothing emotions. Getting treatment through medications, therapy and behaviorial changes can help you learn how to swim this sea. Although you can certainly feel exhaisted and think you will sink, you just need to try to relax and float.

So, metaphors aside, the answer is no — you won’t always be depressed. There wil be setbacks, but there will also be good times ahead.

Hope this helps.