Out of the darkness and into the light

Logan Dailey
Posted 4/14/21

Welcome to spring 2021;

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Out of the darkness and into the light

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Welcome to spring 2021; a new beginning. Spring officially began on March 20, and we have already seen some of the unique aspects of this time of year. The sunshine, followed by cloudy, rainy, sometimes snowy days. 

In this column, I will attempt to shine some light on the dark, cloudy melancholy of depression. 

People suffering from depression know all too well the feelings of darkness, loneliness and even suicidal ideologies. It’s an peculiar and horrible feeling to be in the company of loved ones and feel as though you are entirely alone. 

Depression affects people in many different ways. Nonetheless, the critical part is recognizing if you are being affected by depression and immediately working to overcome it.

The year 2020 was not a splendid year for most; the world was plagued by the COVID-19 virus and disease, people lost their jobs, Australia caught on fire, contentious political rivalries seemingly entered into every facet of life, people lost trust in everything, the list goes on and on. 

2020 did not provide many reasons to be happy, but there were highlights. Despite all of the in-person events constantly being canceled or rescheduled, many events moved online.

Attending and participating in events online was the last thing I wanted to do. But I also didn’t want to get sick or get others sick, either. So, it was an undesirable but compromising solution to a seemingly unsolvable problem. 

I began to find myself focusing solely on the negative aspects of everything going on around me. It was almost as if I was refusing to see the positive in anything. I wanted to be happy but just couldn’t find a reason to be.

If you find yourself in this position, it is time to recognize the problem and work towards a solution. Sometimes depression is brought on by a person’s circumstances, whether medical, personal or otherwise. Other times, it can be more severe and involve a misalignment in one’s brain’s chemistry. 

After dealing with feelings of depression and thoughts of “what the world would be like without me,” I decided it was time to talk to the doctor about what was going on. 

It can be challenging to decide to speak with a doctor about what is going on. Many people feel like they will be branded as “crazy” or “insane” because they talk to their doctor about mental health issues. 

This is not the case. If you are unhappy and can’t overcome it, you need to address it. It cannot be ignored, and it won’t go away. 

After talking to my doctor, I learned depression is something very commonly encountered by a lot of people. Adverse circumstances, previously experienced trauma, lack of quality sleep, even dehydration can cause symptoms of depression to prevail.

Sometimes, a lifestyle change will help to better feelings of depression, but medications are sometimes needed to cope. There are many medications out there to help people work through their depression and are typically relatively inexpensive. 

I hated the thought of being “put on a pill,” but I also wanted to be happy. I began taking my prescribed medication, and before I knew it, my life was changing before my eyes.

Slowly, I could see the clouds parting and the sunshine coming through. In the recent past, I had been neglecting myself and the people I love. Besides that, I stopped doing what I loved and lost interest in the things I used to obsess over (in a good way, of course).

After taking the medication, eating better, being more active and focusing on myself a little more, I found myself feeling better, having better relationships at home and at work and not feeling alone. I was happy with my work, and I was pleased with my life. 

I found I was reigniting my previously lost passions. I was riding my motorcycle, keeping up with my favorite racing riders and drivers, doing mechanical work, reading, writing, the whole gambit. I finally felt like I had worth again. 

A significant part of overcoming the obstacle of depression is simply to talk about it. If you are feeling depressed or suicidal, you are not alone. Call your doctor, family, friends, anyone and remember your life is essential. 

If you are feeling suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255. They have trained professionals there to help you in those most vulnerable moments. Plus, you can chat online with someone by visiting suicidepreventionlifeline.org.

Don’t let the darkness of depression control and ruin your life. Reach out and get the help you need and be assured; you are not alone.