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by Rev. Fr. V.V. Paulose, Toronto, Canada
"He heals the broken hearted and bandages their wounds." (Psalm 147:3)
Don't let depression overtake you.
Depression is a condition of feeling sad and despondent. Feeling blue is a
warning sign to others that you are in distress and need their support.
Depression is becoming the number one challenging medical problem faced today by
the modern, scientific and computer-savvy world. This is spreading from hut to
palace, rich to poor, layman to hermit, saint to sinner and weak to healthy. The
clinically depressed need medical intervention.
Depression is an evolutionary device, the body's way of telling us to stop
wasting energy fighting against things that can do us harm. Be that a bad boss
or bleak winter. "It can be a deterrent the same way pain or fever is a
defense," said Dr. Benoit Mulsant, the Physician-in-chief at Toronto's Center
for Addiction and Mental Health.
Even the emotional process of mourning, which research has shown causes very
real pain for the surviving spouse, ensures there is a quiet, recovery time. It
also draws people to the person in distress, which increases their ability to go
on and may be even, in time, connect with a new love. In a way, depression may
be the body's innate way of ensuring survival of the gene pool.
"Turn to me God and be gracious to me, for I'm lonely and afflicted" (Psalm
25:16).
The depressed need immediate connection with loved ones, this may be family
members, spiritual friends - anyone who has the concern and love. When his
friend Lazarus had died leaving the sisters, Martha and Maria, in loneliness,
Jesus heard about it, went to their house with his disciples, cried with them
and gave life back to Lazarus and cleared the loneliness in the house. Jesus
says, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will
give rest" (Mathew 11;28). Prayer, meditation, Bible reading, contemplation and
the support and constant touch of loved ones will lead you to come out from the
dangers of depression.
Mulsant says, "If you are in conflict with your boss and you keep fighting, at
some point you are going to get fired and lose your job. If you lose your job,
you will lose your income…. maybe you will starve. But if you submit and stop
fighting, your boss may be fired in a year and you'll be okay. Or, the tears of
frustration and pain of biting your tongue will be the ultimate red flag that
it's time to move on."
"God places the lonely in families" (Psalm 68:6). "I'm with you always, even to
the end of age" (Mathew 28 :20). Community life is the life we should live, and
not live a life of loneliness. Do whatever we can do to sustain the togetherness
of life, do it now, right now itself before the sun sets.
Jesus, let us feel your presence and the company of saints and angels around us. Give us your spirit to encourage us when we are lonely and sad. We pray for all the depressed in homes, at work, and in hospitals. Let us perceive those who are in need of our help. Don't leave anybody in loneliness and sadness. All we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.
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