Happiness

I've in recent years given much thought to depression. And exactly what it is.
During my countless musings, I've found myself asking this question over and over: is depression a disability?

I think this condition makes people have a rather pessimistic and misanthropic view on life. I also know a lot of people are somewhat scared of divulging their mental health status - especially on a professional level. What if the employer decides it's better to just hire someone without depression? Less hassle and such? I don't even know if this fear is valid but I think about it a lot still.

The problem of being neurodivergent isn't that you aren't capable of doing work that people who are less so are able to, just a little bit less capable of delivering on a regular schedule.

Typically, disability is when you have a clinical condition that causes severe problems in your life. By that logic depression is a disability in how much it messes up your life. If you ever feel "Oh I would be so much more able to do stuff, and life would be a lot easier" honestly I would be inclined to call that a disability.

How can you manage it, you ask? 

This may not be for everyone, but I think a little bit of reasonable hope can help.

Hope is good for resilience, but if your hope out-weighs reasonable expectation, then it can become too much and leave you stuck in a "depressive" state.

This is where reasonable hope comes in, if you have no unrealistic expectations of "progress" you don't have false hope. With no expectations that anything needs to happen, every single accomplishment is exceeding expectations.

You can literally feel a huge weight lifted off your shoulders, leaving you to freely embark on any journey you choose. Because there is no expectation that anything will come of it, you can embrace life how you wish, absurdly, existentially, whatever makes for a great existence for you. 

You're free from the shackles of life, to do anything at all, because what's the worst thing that could happen... ? If nothing comes of it then no loss, it's what you expected anyway, and if you find a new zest for a life you didn't know you had, then hell yes.

I'm not trying to pitch a 'diagnosis' or convince you that I have all the answers (I'm not qualified to do that and I really don't have all the answers) I just want to share what's often times worked for me.

Avoid sugar and caffeine, try to exercise, or at least take regular walks: ideally in nature. To relax your mind: use incense, get massages, watch a film or read a book (that kind of thing)

Medication could also help, but it could also make things so much worse so be extremely careful with it. If it gives you enough vitality to enjoy yourself and the things you used to love doing, then go for it. But if it brings you back to bed, then it's better to avoid it completely.

Get as much sleep as you need (btw actual 'sleep' and not laying in bed watching youtube videos for hours or scrolling through Instagram)

Try to actively seek social interactions (even if you're introverted or don't feel like seeing anyone), provided you're fortunate enough to have a group of friends or family whose company you enjoy.

If you live alone and, say, you happen to have nice loving parents or siblings: then maybe move in with them for a bit. It helps to have people around (but only when they are sympathetic to your state, sometimes those closest to you are a huge part of the reason you feel the way you do)

If people aren't an option, then get a dog (or cat, I don't know). Try not to be too hard on yourself. It has been pretty bleak, we just entered the third year of a pandemic, the whole world is crashing down and there is currently no hope that things will get better.

It would be very, very unusual if all this hasn't taken a toll on you. Seriously.

Do stuff you like doing for once. The problem isn't in your bio-chemistry, it's motivation and passion... Do something you actually want to do.