Closure on depression. Part 1.

Depression has honestly been on peoples lips lately. I am however particularly concerned that we got some things all wrong. As I demystify some of these issues, I want to start by appreciating the awareness being created. My concern is that we are remaining there. We are remaining in just letting people know there’s a problem and not finding solutions. Creating awareness is not wrong, the opposite rather. But you have not yet quite helped someone who is depressed by just letting others know that depression is real. People need solutions. Depression also needs closure.

Often than not, we just want to tell depressed people, “there is help,” or “look for help”, when we ourselves don’t know where to find it. I mean if you have the contacts of a therapist send them that instead. Give them actual avenues for help,or be the help. Take them to the ” help”. Don’t just say, “seek for help.”

We also tend to have a syndrome of “reach out.”We want people to come to us, when we should be going to people. This should not be merely because of some supposition that someone is not well. We should make it a culture to check on people. The reason is also partially because most depressed people won’t walk around sulking and red eyed. They’ll be the friendliest neighbour, the most smiling girl but victims in the drawn curtains. For you to help you must be a regular, intentional check up friend and not a “hi” once and always posting “reach out.” You reach out.

There is also another class of posting “depression quotes.” I honestly don’t know what intention is behind this. In fact I believe you’re actually helping no one, if anything you’re making things worse. The sad songs, the sad poems and little quotes…I think if you’re going to write sad things that are only descriptive and not prescribing how to get over it, there is no use for posting it. I understand for some it serves to vent, but you would rather share it with a friend and not the world because I believe you need help and not views. We are not to live to dampen each other’s lives. It could be making someone else feel worse so for this class I only have one word, stop.

I think today I’m being hard on y’all. However, kindly regard this as a serious article requiring the “hard” language.

Of to more solutions, it would do us good to foster an attitude of gratitude. You know what’s better than Thanksgiving? Thanksliving! Find things to be grateful for. Own a journal and maybe every morning or evening try and find anything to be grateful for; fresh air, breath of life, a nice haircut or even that you’ve made your bed that morning. You will find more contentment, more beauty in life. Studies show that complaining actually shrinks or contracts your prefrontal cortex that you become less able to think and places the brain in a fight/flight mode. Give thanks, you have nothing to lose aside from a bitter life or cloudy day.

Read your Bible, pray everyday. You realize we’ve switched to some type of self-help prescriptions and I cannot overemphasize this one. God welcomes us to His audience chamber and He is always eager to listen to us. His infinite and tender mercy is a fountain overflowing and He longs to unburden us. When we pray we open our hearts to a friend able to do exceedingly abundantly above what we can ask. We also need to read His word because it is how God speaks to us, and often, our answers are therein.

I hope that we practice most if not all of these things. Depression is serious and rampant but it is nothing to be proud of. There is no glory in it. God in His infinite mercy reveals to us things we can do in our sphere to help us live a good quality and quantity of years. And for the things in His sphere He says, “cast your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”