23 Jul 08 - Depression is for the weak-willed?

Someone i know is suffering from depression now.. yet his spiritual buddy (Accountable Partner) keeps telling him to snap out of it, saying it's all in the mind.. that makes him even more depressed..

For those of you who think depression is 'all in the mind', please do your homework on Depression. You are NOT helping a depressed person at all! It's better for u not to comment and withdraw yourself, than to worsen the condition of depression. Depression will not be listed as 'illness' if we can put it off by our own will.
Can you tell flu to stay away from you and to get out of you?

Everyone knows depression is bad, even those suffering under depression knows it. But it's really not within our ability to fight these thoughts and emotions which are flooding us constantly. We know our condition, we recognise our condition, we do not understand how can we be in it and we want to 'snap out of it'. But very often, it's a physical and mental battle for us. We do not ask you to fully understand the struggle and the battle, but please exercise your love and patience.

Stop telling a depressed person to snap it out,
stop telling a depressed person that it's all in the mind.
Where is your love for your brother?

If you have read my earlier blogs, you can roughly see my struggle to fight depression. But you can never understand how much effort and determination are required in this daily mental battle.

If I may put it, i can assure you that depressed minds are definitely stronger than those who are not depressed. You cannot imagine the 24hr x 7days mental defence in this intense battle. The price of this battle is HIGH - our whole life is at stake. We do not have to win, but we MUST win! Any relaxation in our mental defense will cost our life and our lives of our loved ones to fall apart! That is how INTENSE this battle!! Trust me, it's really very tiring and exhuasting!! In a physical battle, there is a possible chance of 'retreating and rest' but in mental, REST IS A LUXURY! If we ever let down our guard, our life and people around us will fall with us.

So please, if you have friends or anyone you know who are suffering depression, DO NOT, i say again, DO NOT tell them it's all in the mind. Because you do not know how heavily guarded they have already built in their mind!! If you don't know what to say, then please SHUT UP!! This is one of those times when your physical presence is valued more than words.

Exercise your love and patience!