Ever have one of those seasons when everything goes wrong? When people disappoint you, friends abandon you, and rejection is around every corner. When your best efforts are criticized, what do you do? When your dreams go up in smoke, and you are left holding ashes, how do you cope?
What are the signs of depression? Loneliness and isolation? Sleeping too much, or not sleeping at all? Overeating, or can’t choke anything down? Tired and achy? Feeling flat? No energy? No interest in….much of anything?
I had a dear friend who had her share of depression. She once said something profound about it. She’s gone now, and I don’t remember her exact words, but here’s the idea:
We think that depression is a negative thing, but really it’s a chance to go inside and reflect. It’s a chance to enter our mind and heart, find out what we’ve stored there, and get rid of things we no longer need. It’s a chance to get to know ourselves better and to do some deep cleaning.
I think I’ll go inside for a bit and wander about. It seems a little dusty in here. There are cobwebs in the corners, and crumbs underneath the tables. What was that I once heard about “a heart swept clean and garnished?” I need a broom.
Sweeping...Sweeping.
Linda Garner
9 comments:
Years ago I liked it on "Will & Grace" when Grace had a messy breakup and went catatonic. Everyone tried to get her out if it. But she needed to do her devastation thing on her own time rather than being forced to bounce back immediately.
That's how some need to be.
I hate to hear that you're feeling this way. I hope that the season is short and that hope and happiness come back and last a good long time. God bless.
Wow, that comment is really good. Sometimes I relish a good depression just for that alone. I can spend time alone with my thoughts.
CD
I understand your need to look inside but hope you don't lose your way and get lost there as so many have done - when deep cleaning becomes true depression that spirals further and further into the problems rather than cleaning them out.
I'll lend you my shop vac if you need it. Helps get rid of dark cobwebs lots faster. Peace to you.
As long as we emerge and don't stay inside reflecting. I think that can drag you down in deeper. I'm all for a good reflecting and I do cherish my alone time. No interest in much of anything would scare me. Even when I've been at my low points, I still had a thing or two here or there that would pull me through (Xena reruns, Lord of the Rings on DVD with Lucky Charms for dinner). I'm sorry you are having a tough season. It's so easy to get down when that happens. But there is nothing wrong with a good housecleaning as long as you throw open that door to let people back in once you're clean!
a little is good but at some point you have to give yourself a boot in the toosh :) Or have a pity party like I did on my blog last night ;p
http://damselinadirtydress.blogspot.com
I'm so sorry you are feeling down Linda. I hope things pick up for you soon. <3 <3 <3
Sometimes I love a good melancholy - I don't want to be "cheered up" or "talked out of it" - but wallow in it, let it cover me up where I snuggle into it. As long as it doesn't last longer than a few days or week at most -
such an insightful post - I think sometimes we do need to go inward a bit - so much stimuli all around us that we crave a little isolation.
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