Depression is okay
September 9th, 2009
It really is – I mean… it’s okay to have it – there’s no shame in being depressed. I know there’s an old, outdated stigma attached with depression, but not any more – there is no shame in depression.
Five years ago today, I was hospitalized in Houston with severe clinical depression. It was a horrible place to be, but a fabulous place to be if you need to be there. Gosh, I’m so glad those around me made it easy enough for me to reach out for help. It’s a horrible disease – there’s no x-ray – there’s no blood test – nothing. In hindsight, the Lord was preparing me for the death of my wife (due to cancer). Yvonne even said ‘living through it with me helped prepare her for the end of her life’. (I want you to know I survived depression – I haven’t had an antidepressant in four years.)
Hey… if you know of someone with depression, help ‘em to know it’s okay – it’s just another (horrible) disease – make it easy enough for ‘em to reach out for help.
By the way (I really should use this opportunity to say)… severe clinical depression can become life threatening – don’t hesitate to ask the (patient) if he/she has a plan to hurt themselves - if they do, then get ‘em some professional help, pronto! If you have to, call 911 – it’s okay.
