Lets Talk About Depression
The word depression is very familiar. It is frequently used in general conversation and certainly in medical settings, especially mental health facilities. The common usage of it may result in vagueness, confusion and serious misunderstanding. My intention is to talk plainly about depression.
As a starting point the word means to press down, to slow down, to feel sadness and apathy. It may be for a brief moment to many days perhaps weeks and to some degree chronic. A discussion with a family member, spouse, son or daughter may increase the intensity of emotion thus result in depressing behavior. A piece of music, book, play, TV and other forms of media may affect us in that we experience tears. We may “let it out” talking louder, more rapidly, screaming, shouting or the opposite retreating into sullen silence, perhaps leaving the area, sitting down or just standing and glaring. In short, we may press down and do or say nothing. If for a period of time it could be a problem for silence is not always golden. My past behavior is a testimony to this form of coping with what is called Depression. So I am well acquainted with this first hand and as a retired Mental Health professional.
Depression describes a condition, a status, an exterior message that is misleading. Just a nice and quiet guy who doesn’t say much is a common description! It can be mollified by eating too much, drinking too much, altered sexual activity, in other words, become a dysfunctional problem of serious physical as well as mental proportions. A depressive state is neither good nor bad, right nor wrong. It is just a part of our normalness. But when it becomes a way of life it becomes quite destructive to the individual and disruptive in marriage as well as other business or social settings.
What to do about it. My intent is only to discuss the use of the word Depression and not to slough it off to some nether land. Like all mental or physical health problems it must be recognized for what it is. It is on the one hand quite normal and like most of life when normality is expanded or more intense it may be dangerous to health and wealth. And in all cases, each one of us has to recognize what is going on in our mind, emotions and body and seek professional assistance. While reading about these issues in a book or a brief commentary as you are doing for the moment be aware when you experience some danger signals as described above.
