D for Depression – D for Dangerous

I write this blog post on a Sunday where I’ve read Deepika Padukone’s piece on battling depression. The blog post is titled as it is because I have always believed and practiced that the word never exists in my dictionary of life.

I have valued my own life as a gift for me to live the life of a middle class Indian and I cherish it. It staggers to read that a piece in The Independent dated 26th July 2011 rates India as the most depressed country with 36% of the sample size under the attack of being depressed.

Nothing will make a difference in your life but the fact that you value your life more than anything else. Getting to know the adverse effect of giving in to depression is something a depressed soul does not calculate or think. Some of the many adversaries, for starters, are broken parents, one where you cannot assess the damage, one I hope no parent in the future has to see.

We can fight depression by doing these four things. Of course other than one most important thing which I shall describe later.

1. Value life.

2. Respect what you have been gifted.

3. Find happiness in whatever you do. As small as spending time with yourself.

4. Value people. Parents/family, friends in that order.

Now to that one thing, that one important thing that will definitely help you fight depression, find that one person/friend/family member who you can talk to. Or to a counselor. Sadly counseling in India is a taboo but I’ve had the chance to meet some of those counselors who happen to be the most level headed people I've seen all my life. Also, my sibling sister has probably borne the maximum brunt of my frustration but I’m glad I made sure I spoke to her because she went on to be that one person for me who helped me shape my life the way I wanted it to and it is currently.

I write this with the hope that the world around me chooses by itself to be more optimistic than cynical because all you need to do is choose one out of many reasons to be happy.

P.S. I write this in the background of hearing people have attempted/committed suicides in the recent past.