Depression is a debilitating mental health issue. Just like an injury of the body that can often be healed with treatment and care, depression is an injury of the mind that also needs treatment and care. It has been 7 years since I grappled with a bout of depression myself. Diagnosed by a psychologist with moderate clinical depression, I took up cognitive-behavioral therapy for treatment. Thankfully it proved helpful for me and aided my growth by giving me a deeper understanding of my cognitive distortions and maladaptive behaviors. After finishing therapy, as part of my continuing healing process I took up mindfulness meditation, specifically via zazen. I have not looked back since then and highly recommend mindfulness meditation practices to all.
Sadly, depression is still widely misunderstood in many societies and often stigmatized. Hopefully as neuroscience, psychology, behavioral science, pharmacology, and other sciences shed more light on the causes, mechanisms, and treatments of this illness, more people and organizations will learn how to help people suffering from depression. As a person who has endured and thankfully recovered from this illness, I have been raising awareness about mental health issues and coping/treatment mechanisms. This matters especially in academia, where graduate students are known to suffer disproportionately from mental health issues. As a part of the awareness, a sonnet on depression:
A silent specter that invades your soul,
Locking you away in a darkness so cold.
Desolation and despair take their toll,
As if you have yourself in a stranglehold.
Losing interest in old ways of fun,
Can't even get yourself to fix a meal.
No joy, no sorrow, nowhere to run,
Even your breath, panic attacks steal.
Circles of darkness envelop the eyes,
As sleeping becomes an erratic chore.
No laughter, no tears, nor any guise,
Nothing in life seems to matter anymore.
People may say just think it all away,
As if this is something you chose to be.
Night after night, day after day,
An invisible injury many will not see.
Only over time will a path appear,
Showing you the valley was not an abyss.
Love thyself, and your near and dear,
A healing heart will get you out of this.
