Clinical depression is a
darkness that comes from deep within. It
is not born of an innate sadness, but it will readily throw its sufferer into a
pit of despair. If mild, it means the
difference in how one sees the rain: as a
great excuse to spend the day reading, or a disappointment of ruined
plans. When it’s severe, there are no
plans--because it’s way too much effort to even get out of bed.
“Sadness” is transient and
will fade with time. Depression is an
illness, a condition like high blood pressure or diabetes. In all but the mildest cases, chemical
intervention (whether “natural” or pharmaceutical) is needed to activate the body’s faulty or depleted neurotransmitters,
which are necessary for proper brain function.
A sick person cannot be
bullied into good health. Telling those with
clinical depression to “snap out of it,” “pull up your bootstraps,” or “hey, things
could be a lot worse” is useless--and will probably make them feel even worse. Still, a sympathetic ear at the right time
can give the sufferer a ray of hope...and perhaps the strength to hang in there
another day.