If you've ever felt depression, there is no question that it sucks. With symptoms that include low to no appetite, low energy, alienation from loved ones or, in the worst cases, suicide, it is an affliction that crosses all cultures and societies. It can take you from looking forward to tomorrow to being paralyzed by today.
Here's the half-empty: life can be really unfair, and downright suck, no question. Between jobs, relationships, and health there can be so much that drives us into depression, there's no question.
But here's the half-full... the depression that you experience can have upsides. I know, it sounds odd but it can be true. Here are some of the upsides:
You Know How to Deal
Realize it or not, the depression you deal with helps you to cope in other areas of your life. If you've gone through a bout of it, you know what the struggle back to a semblance of normality can be like. You've seen and climbed that mountain more than once, and the inner fortitude it takes to deal with depression often makes you a stronger person. Learning how to handle depression is no small feat and millions of us do it, sometimes every day.
It's the risk of "dealing" through drug abuse, alcohol or risky behaviors that can be disastrous if not recognized and checked. Developing better, personal coping mechanisms can help mitigate these risks, and it's these kind of insights that depressed people learn while trying to just hold on.
Introspection is a Valuable Skill
The ability to look inward and examine ourselves shouldn't be minimized, it's an important skill that can benefit us in many, many ways. But our society, with its' distinct opinions on "beauty" or "normal", doesn't exactly encourage us to examine our inner reality; it's often too busy entertaining us or dazzling us with the latest sports, music or awards event. These activities don't help us to address our internal emotional makeup in significant ways.
When we use introspection to consider and, hopefully, sort out what is bothering us, we're building a foundation of critical thinking that can serve us well in multiple arenas. We just have to work hard to steer our introspection away from the negative self perception.
Heightened Empathy
Those who endure periods of depression seem more likely to sympathize with others who are experiencing difficult times. Maybe through their depression they have developed a greater capacity for compassion. This is a definite upside that should be appreciated.
Dealing with hard times is... well, hard. But learning how to navigate that helps us become more empathetic toward others who are also experiencing difficult times. Trust me, if we could all truly appreciate the pain that those around us go through, the world would change. Over night.
Potentially Healthier Relationships
While it may sound counter-intuitive to think that depression can actually help us develop better relationships, it can and does. Many sufferers of depression cite interpersonal relationships with significant others or family as a factor that brings on their depression.
It can be a wake up call for some to reorganize their priorities and pursue what's really important to their lives. And by heeding that call, we can start to build strong relationships that help us thrive.
Like fight or flight or our other instinctual behaviors, depression is something that is a part of human nature. Understandably, it hurts in a way that is hard to define but easy to see. But just because it is painful does not mean it cannot have upsides or be insightful.
The tricky part about it is perspective. It's hard to see silver linings when we feel like we're groping in the dark. It's harder still to ask for help or companionship when we feel like we can barely lift our head off the pillow. But when we do lift our heads and get talking we're showing that we can persevere, and each time we get up again we get just a little stronger. Over time, that can really add up.
If you are experiencing depression, I hope that this message gives you a little relief.
Remember to breath. You're getting stronger by the moment.