Depression Talk

One of the biggest things that can intensify symptoms of depression is the thought that everything is pointless because we’re all going to die. Even more fun is the thought that the universe will eventually die. That means nothing is lasting and therefore everything we do will evenutally become meaningless because it will all fade into oblivion.

Don’t Ignore It

If you start talking about death and how everything is pointless, everyone around you either assumes you are going to commit suicide or they tell you to think about something else. Although many people who do commit suicide (or try to) do talk about death beforehand, they usually talk about the act of death itself, such as “What do think is less painful? Drowning or a gunshot to the head?”

But you do need to look at the fact that you are going to die, whether you have been diagnosed with depression or not. If you keep pushing it away, it becomes part of the Great Unknown and can become far more frightening than it really needs to be. True, no one knows for sure or has 100% proof of what happens to your consciousness and sense of self after you die. You could come back in another body, you could go to an invisible place or you could dissolve into nothingness.

Either of these happenings are really not that bad, once you really think long and hard about them. Studies show that at the moment of death, the body relseases a lot of happy drugs (endorphines) into the system. Everyone may wind up shuffling off of this mortal coil high as a kite. The next life could be a prolonged happy hallucination that seemingly stretches to infinity. That’s not such a bad fate.

In The Meantime

In the meantime, life is like attending a concert with your favorite singer. Sure, there’s a heck of a long wait before the singer comes on and you have to sit through opening acts, but at least, eventually, the singer shows up and performs a great gig. It would be silly wasting that opportunity dreading the moment when the singer takes his final bow and leaves the stage. You want to get as much enjoyment of the concert as you can while you’re there.

Hope this helps.