Depression- ‘The Misunderstood Art’
Depression, a major abating sickness which still finds itself surrounded by so many ‘untrue assumptions’. The world is a place to live, breathe and be at contempt with life- with all the dimensions one has to explore. However, realistically, it is not the case- or never could be. One of the major ‘path encounters’ would undeniably be depression-‘The Misunderstood Illness’.
Well, I should at least feel safe in saying that many of you may have experienced symptoms of depression at some point in your life- due to either internal or external factors, however, the resultant of which seemed to pacify you, making you more responsive to this short life. Yes, that feeling- a feeling such impeccable that one can almost feel his/her own skin falling off the body, or lungs wanting to explode or the mind wanting to fall off a cliff. If you can only relate to what I am saying, and what I am about to say- I know that this article would not conflict with your already set definitions concerning depression.
However to the majority, who would seem to have less, or those that are conditioned- these ideas seem to have been nurtured to him/her by the immediate society as time progressed. As I said, everyone may end up getting depressed at a certain point in their lives, but the next, most challenging aspect of it- how long will this cliché last. I would call it as such because one seems to be living a double life- yet trying so hard- as hard as one could, to be aligned to societal expectations.
There are a lot of people, which we just do not realize, have been battling with depression for quite a while, with their smiles shrinking to almost less than a centimeter over time, it is like cancer but much worse. I know because I too have felt the rays of depression and its impact on my life. With the sickness infecting the mind such pleasingly, the days get undressed, one’s skin is torn, the clouds depart and the umbrellas, it seems to have been untouched all this while. By this, I hope you can relate- a sailor who has never been wet- and for a depressed never to have encountered happiness for quite a while- it is all a metaphor- in the abstract and the concrete reality as well.
However, with depression, one tries very hard, ‘the unfortunate victim’- being drawn to the extremes of life, is faced with another annihilating touch. This time, it is the immediate society, one which seems to be overly filled with so many assumptions- they could complete their doctorate studies in just three days. The prevalent of stigmata regarding one of the most publicized illnesses throughout the world- it is such prodigious- but only to the ones who do not experience it.
How many times would a depressed hear, “why don’t you just snap out of it’, or “what is wrong with you- I cannot understand” Yes, I too, am just so familiar with these phrases, ones which at the first touch- I can tell- the person in front of me has no idea about. ‘Yes, I would snap out of it, but why do you think that I cannot?’
The very reality of things, is that one is unable to ‘just snap out of it’ such casually. Many people think that depression occurs because of some tragic events in one’s life. Well, I would say that a particular, ‘standard norm’, as simple as the previous line- people seem to find highly appealing. Yet, no one would even go a step further in trying to investigate on the real causes of depression- however are conventionally inclined to make assumptions right away.
This is one of the most ‘depressing aspects about depression’- one in which people cannot/ do not even know the realities of such a fading illness. The line, as ironical as it sounds, is overly applicable to the entirety of the concept- one that no one would seem to understand. As the days continue to progress, with little hope inside the mind of ‘the depressed one’, O look at everyone else- talking such sinisterly behind his back, making him look miserable- can it get any better than this?
This is the grisly reality of our society- where the ‘happy ones’ are encouraged and the ‘sad ones’ are ridiculed to an extent beyond repair- one starts having unending suicidal tendencies. Yes, suicide is a very real thing, and not just a word or a little thing associated with sadness. A person may come to a point in life- when he/she is unable to look at him/herself in the mirror anymore, and every second that there is- it is filled with so much guilt and regret, the next breath which he/she will feel, is not meant to be.
The greatest defeat of our lives would be in ending it such casually, however- no one would ever be able to fathom the reality of the mind, ‘the victims mind’, each thought and emotion that made him end his own life. All I want, is for readers to know and understand that depression is a very complicated illness yet plain as red water. Life would seem to stop, literally- while the ‘ordinary ones’ continue working such carefree. We too are humans, with feelings and unrelenting emotions- all we desire is a little bit of humanity from our own species-humans, and if there is anything to life- that would be in the comfort of the next line which is about to unfold such eccentrically.
My piece of advice to those already suffering from this ‘creative illness’, is that, although you may have heard this phrase more than a million times, please do bear with me for once-because life has so many things to offer. At one point in time, I also felt that I was just another charcoal- one that had no purpose in this life- and so, was convinced that ending this life would perhaps be the most reasonable options for me. However, the reality of things, is that life has so many things to offer- just as I was able to turn the charcoal into a rainbow of such splendid colors, I know- each of you suffering from depression also can. Hold onto the precious gift of life and trust me, for I know so well, good days will eventually come.
Reaching out towards other people for help will undeniably be of great assistance. I know that the mutual feeling will never be there- in terms of someone else trying to feel and understand all that you are feeling, but a conversation with the right person can be a major turning point. During times when the grief gets uncontrollable and suicidal tendencies are at peak, well I try to look for temporary things which will make feel quite relaxed, such as listening to my favorite music or eating chocolates or going for a walk. And even this may not always seem to work at times, and I know, many of you who would be able to relate, all I could do is to express my emotions on paper, for the judgmental crowd to see, or be overwhelmed by the truth. There is so much creativity inside your mind, you just have to explore and remember, life is a very precious gift, and is filled with endless tragedies, however the greatest win for us would be in breathing and continuing living like we used to when we were just a child- carefree and expressible. To everyone who is depressed, I love you…know that someone loves you and that good days are coming.
-Yogesh Chandra
Image Courtesy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zo-v0AkHmSg