Depression sucks

Depression sucks.

It eats away at who you are. It eats away at what you want to do. It eats away at who you think you are. It eats away at your thoughts, replacing them with doubt and fear. After all that eating - it is still hungry. It eats away at your desire to live. Eventually, there is nothing.

The most courageous people I know are the ones that live with depression. Next on my list of courageous people are those who are on their way or have made their way back from depression.
Some of the most loving people are those who love people going through depression. Many times a those struggling with depression have nothing to give, no desire to live, no way to return love, not a smile or even appreciation.

Depression is not a difficult life; it is difficult living. There are many who have a difficult life. How many stories are there of courageous children suffering from horrible disease? They are sometimes the most loving, the most filled with joy, the most encouraging and the most hope filled and loving people. Often they experience pain, terrible procedures and are severely limited in their ability to do "normal" things.

We look at them and understand that they are in pain, and that their life may be short. We commend them for fighting. Many have a desire to live life to the fullest, overcome their limitations, love others.

Not so with depression. These people hurt almost all the time, or have gotten to the point of numbness. They are not a joy to be with. They do not have pain we can see. They may even have wonderful lives, be gifted with physical health and lovely families. Yet, they do not have a desire to live, achieve, grow, overcome.

We cannot see what is wrong. We do not know what can make it better. Do they even want to get better ? Why are they not responding to our loving them ? The closest we want to be is far away.

They do not look very courageous. Often they look lazy, unwilling to see the beauty around them, unwilling to get up, unwilling to hope, unwilling to overcome, unwilling to let us help.

Depression is debilitating. It takes those we love far beyond our reach. It hurts them. It takes away their ability to see good; it takes away their desire to be with us; it takes away their desire to live.

It is far worse for those living with it in them. It steals, kills and destroys. All that life has to offer is stolen. All that remains is existence. Years of potential lost.

Depression sucks.