Recently I had a conversation with someone about Depression. For those of you who are faithful followers of Planet Kirby, you will know that I have often said, and written, that depression is the worst illness of all. I say that because virtually all sufferers with depression contemplate suicide and many of them eventually succeed in ending their torment in this way. What other illness is so horrific that people want to kill themselves? Patients with cancer or heart disease want to live. Depressives want to die.
As one who has been personally engaged in a daily battle with the disease, my experience has been that someone can survive almost anything, as long as he sees the end in sight. But depression is so insidious, and it compounds daily, that it is impossible to ever see the end.
So, it was during this recent conversation, I learned that this person knew someone who had been suffering from depression and just a few days ago took their own life. As I contemplated what this individual was telling me I became further determined to sound the warning bell about this horrible disease. People will talk about everything else in this world but no one is willing to talk about depression.
Beginning today, I would like to focus Planet Kirby on the topic of depression. After all, Planet Kirby is really just a blog about me trying to make sense of this crazy world in which we live and depression has played a large part in my life. Not only has this disease taken its best shot at me but it has plagued the lives of several people close to me.
I have heard some people describe depression as “living in a black hole” or having a feeling of impending doom. However, sometimes people don't feel sad at all—they may feel lifeless, empty, and apathetic. Whatever the symptoms, I want to be clear that depression is different from normal sadness in that it engulfs your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun. The feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are intense and unrelenting, with little, if any, relief. Trust me, I know.
Depression is very real. Chances are that you know someone who is suffering with the disease at this moment. Unfortunately, nobody wants to talk about it and often those with the disease suffer in silence either because they don't understand the disease or they don't want to risk the stigma of others knowing that they are depressed. I chose to tell others about my battle with the disease in the hopes that others will see that you can survive its deadly grasp. My hope is that Planet Kirby will make a difference someone's life. A difference that might be the difference between life and death.
Be Well.
Bill
