Depression and Feelings of Unloved
I ran across this quote today:
“The most terrible poverty is loneliness and the feeling of being unloved.”
— Mother Teresa
And I can honestly say that it hit me hard, those suffering depression often feel unloved, even when love and friendship is surrounding them. They need "more" from those who aren't dealing with depression then ever before. They need that extra hug, that extra praise, that extra five minutes of your time. They need that ear that's tired of hearing the same sob story to hear it just one more time. And most of all they need your compassion and unwavering love. They need to know that someone is there to lift them up when they cannot lift themselves up.
Depression is NOT a choice. It's not something you wake up one day thinking you'd like to have. It's not a personality choice. It is a chemical imbalance in the brain.
If you asked a depressed person, on one of their good days, if they'd ever like to go back to depression, the answer would be a resounding, "No". It's true that there is some comfort in the familiarity of depression, but it's no way to live one's life. It takes more than it gives.
So the next time you encounter a person suffering from depression, don't turn your back. No matter how tired you are of the same old "sob story", don't leave them alone. You don't have to be there 24/7, but be there.
