eThoughts : Ahhh, Depression

Depression is inevitable, however it manifests itself. It’s a depressing world. More often than not, it’s depressing interacting with people. More often than not, our politics are depressing, our work is depressing, it’s depressing we don’t play more often, it’s depressing that things seem to be getting worse. It’s depressing how long a list it can be.

A simple matter of changing our mind? We need to infuse ourselves with more positive thinking? Believe and we shall receive? Oh crap. Recall that changing our minds is important, but such a feature is not done in isolation. Positive thinking is one thing, being positively deluded is another. And it’s a good thing that we don’t much get what we believe, some of the stuff people believe is unbelievable.

It is my observation that more of us should be depressed, or to put it more accurately, more of us should note that we already are. It is my observation that things are so depressing that the way most people combat human silliness is to avoid depression altogether. So we create a state of blithely ignoring our depression and proceed as if all we need is a smile, a warm, fuzzy feeling, and good outlook—not to mention a cocktail or two and/or that magical pharmaceutical. Well, avoidance is a great short-term approach to stress and illness, but humans have used it forever. Look where it’s gotten us—or at least look where we are.

Here’s my thought for going beyond hope alone: Embrace depression. We’re depressed, let’s face it. And we’re depressed for good reason—it’s not a mental/somatic disorder, it’s a mental/somatic canary in the mineshaft of ourselves. Far from a disorder, it is a call to order. Far from a loss of contact with reality, it is reality. We’re largely a stupid mess and it’s time to stop being defensive about it. Let’s quit treating depression like we need to fix it and start treating it as the gift it is. Sure, there is the “ugh” factor, wallowing around in the clogged septic system of our creation isn’t pleasant, but it is necessary to get things flowing freely again. And we can’t solely rely on some “Skunky Pumper” franchise—be it pills, school, work, money, therapy, politics, religion, etc.—to do it for us so we can remain blithely aloof. Not that these things can’t help, but so far they’re part of the depression (businesses’ bottom line is not how well they serve the customer and/or the environment, but how well they get paid—not that getting paid and properly serving are inherently mutually exclusive). Working together and working individually are both necessary. Both individuals and organizations of individuals might start the process by stopping avoidance and getting to the depressing truth about what humans have manifested both internally and externally.

Here’s the interesting part: Admitting and embracing depression is uplifting. It frees up the tremendous amount of energy needed to avoid reality. And the problem with depression is one of an energy crisis to begin with.

Sweet.