Last night, I came across an interesting article about depression, titled 50 Sufferers Describe Depression For People Who’ve Never Been Depressed
In response to sharing that article, on Twitter, Reine Jade had a wish that took the concept and turned it around.
@SurvivorNetwork I wish there was a list where other people describe what it’s like to live without depression to someone who doesn’t know.
— Reine Jade (@lareinedejade) May 8, 2014
An interesting idea to be sure. So, here’s your chance. If you have either never suffered from depression, or have come out of depression, what does that look like?
As for myself, the big difference that I see about when I had depression, and now that I really don’t, is balance. When I was depressed, I was really unable to feel happiness or joy about anything. It was all about what was wrong, and how everything that was wrong was specifically targeted at me. (Depression is actually a very narcissistic disease, everything negative effects you, directly, even when it has nothing to do with you.)
Not being depressed means having things that I enjoy, and the freedom to enjoy them. That doesn’t mean that I don’t have times of feeling sad, lonely, or stressed. Life is full of those emotions, but it is also full of joy, excitement, happiness, love and contentment. It’s when I can experience both positive and negative emotions without fear of being overrun by negativity that I know I am living a healthy emotional life, not suffering from depression.
In other words, when I get a good evaluation at work, I’m happy, and when I get a flat tire while driving, I can deal with it and take care of the situation in some way, I’m balanced emotionally. When my tire goes flat and I sit in the car and cry, unable to do anything about it, not so much.
Now it’s your turn? What does a life free of depression look like?