The Pit of Depression - How Does That Feel?
So many people would like to help someone close who is struggling with depression but don't actually know what it is like, so please take this short journey with me to "The Pit". Possibly it can assist you to understand a lot more.
Imagine ...
Imagine yourself inside a dark pit, you really don't know how on earth you got there. You just appeared to land on a slippery slope and straight down you went. It's very terrifying, absolutely nothing makes sense, and you simply cannot see anything. Thoughts bombard you from the inside, a little bit like unknown creatures flying around you in a dark cave, you are useless, you are guilty, you are unlovable, life's impossible. You feel stressed and also quickly irritated. You can't fall asleep. You're tired but sleep doesn't come. Your desire for food has disappeared and you can't eat. Activities that you used to enjoy hold absolutely no attraction now you're in the pit. You try to claw the way out, it's an incredibly hard struggle, it's possible death would be a welcome alternative. It's very distressing and you recognize that you will need help to get out. Yet this kind of thought can also be scary because it is not easy to rely on anyone, you've learned to become very self-sufficient, people can easily hurt. You take a grip on the edge of the pit and desperately hope that someone will offer you a helping hand and pull you out of the pit. Somebody does come along and your hopes rise. People look over the edge and you hear comments such as:
- What is your problem? - I'm surprised, I figured you were stronger than that. - Nobody actually said that life was fair. - Pull yourself together. - Quit feeling sorry for yourself. - There are plenty of people far worse off compared to you. - You really feel yourself loosing your grip on the edge of the pit. - You truly have so many things to be grateful for, what possible reason do you have to be depressed? - You feel you've got difficulties ...! - Brighten up! - You really need to get out much more. - Well, everyone gets depressed sometimes. - You never think about anybody except yourself. - You are just looking for people's attention. - You don't look depressed. - Maybe you must get some supplements, or perhaps chamomile tea for your stress.
Every one of these remarks injure you a great deal, perhaps you were correct in not placing your trust in people.
Then a few more people come along and listen to you struggling to get out of the pit. Perhaps they will are going to help. You hear these words.
- I love you, allow me to offer you a hand. - I do care, why don't we go out for a coffee. - You're not on your own in this. - I'm certainly not going to abandon you. - Hey, you are not crazy. - I can't fully understand what you're feeling, but I'm going to give it a go. - You're extremely important to me. - Pretty much all I would like to do right now is give you a hug and a shoulder to weep on. - Once all this is finished, I will still be here and so will you. - It will certainly go away. We can ride it out together.
Love your despondent friend. That's all they want. Don't attempt and connect them up, they would fix themselves up if they possibly could. Encourage them to go to a doctor if they have not already been. Invite them out for a cup of coffee or a walk and make sure they do know they are well loved!
About the Author
If you need to learn more details on overcoming depression and ways to to give support to somebody, make sure you visit http://overcoming-depression.org for more info.
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