Life is a roller coaster ride and there are times when you are hanging upside down for a really long time. Depression, stress and mood out are some of the most commonly used words these days. Children also use them, some because they hear it often, some because they actually mean it.
Wait…If you are someone with tonnes of advice for people who are depressed, here, right here, just get out. This article is not for you.
I am writing this from the bottom of my heart to every soul that needs ………..
No one can fill in the blank except for the one who is depressed. The needs are different, tiny, big, silly, huge, logical, nonsense, practical, fairy tale kind….. it varies from person to person; it varies from time to time.
Let’s get one thing straight. No one gets depressed by choice. By all means, every single one of us wants to be happy. If you have a family member, a friend, a colleague, a neighbour who is constantly depressed, talk to them, smile at them, give them hope.
If you are the one who is depressed, talk to people you trust, share your feelings, be candid and honest. Seek help by any means. Stay connected to people who stand by you.
Fighting my own inner battle and taking a break from the world for a 3-day Vipassana course, I switch on my mobile to say hello to the world and the first thing I see is that Sushant is no more.
He got to play Dhoni, he did some decent films, he had a fan following, he was a topper, he was handsome, he was well-read, he was loved… and he is gone.
What made this young soul pain so much and decide to end it all? I am not here to research that and now that he is gone, it is not decent to do so. We have lost a life. One amongst us. And every time a life ends out of depression, we fail. All of us.
Maybe a kind word, a friendly gesture, a support system, a love might have stopped him. Maybe he would have just skipped the thought by watching some movie with friends, with that boring zoom call with cousins or a walk with neighbours. If an intelligent, smart and successful young celebrity cannot handle it, we are failing as a society. (according to our societal norms, these things are supposed to bring happiness right?)
What is our education system dumping us with? What are those merits and medals for if we can’t handle ourselves? What hope are we giving to each other as a society to just be alive and see where life takes us?
All said and done, he is gone.
But, the next time we see someone upset, let us
· NOT advice based on our experience
· LISTEN to them
· LET them cry
· SUPPORT in any way we can
· NEVER criticize them
· NOT judge them
· ACKNOWLEDGE their weak moment and stand with them
· REASSURE them that it is okay to feel that way
· TALK to them
· CHECK often if they are doing ok
· ENCOURAGE them to do things that make them happy
· SHARE kind words
· STOP forcing them to follow our advice (go to this astrologer etc)
· UNDERSTAND IF THEY DO NOT FOLLOW OUR ADVICE
Depressed people need just one thing to reboot and come back to life — to be understood.
This world needs more love. Whoever is feeling unwanted, unhappy, miserable or any such feeling, listen, you can still do it. You can make your dream come true, you can find a good partner, you can pass that exam, you can become successful, you can do and be whatever you want to. Until your heart beats, you have all the time in the world.
Hold on. This moment shall pass and the next moment is waiting for you to LIVE.
