Advice for the depressed soul
What would you do when everything doesn’t seem to work out anymore?
When every step forward forces you to take two steps back,
And every positive thought leads to the inner voices drowning you back to negativity?
Like swimming out to escape from your island of depression, shackled to an anchor, only to be restrained back to shore by the invisible tides of despair? You know, kind of a familiar scene from Tom Hanks’ Cast Away?
I liked this article by Michael R. McBride, attempting to figure out why we harbour suicidal tendencies.
I met up with a friend yesterday.
I’ve known Abu through a mutual friend from a cycling session sometime back. Since then, our friendship blossomed and we share the same kind of jokes and interests.
“How are you?” I greeted and also invited him to start the conversation going.
What seemed to be a casual meeting turns out to be a monologue on his problems.
He clearly needed a listening ear and someone to talk to.
Things took a darker turn after he mentioned that there are several times when he would look at the windows to his room, and sensed how near the distance was from his ninth storey flat to the ground floor.
He was insinuating on contemplating suicide.
Of course, he reassured to me that he would not do such a thing.
You have a duty to do in this world
“Think about those who are in a much worse position than you. The oppressed Rohingya from Myanmar, those African refugees who crossed the Mediterranean Sea just to have a better life in the EU, or better yet, the Syrian refugees who are being denied asylum from their neighbouring countries despite having a crisis.”
“Do you think that your problems are greater than them, that it is justifiable for you to end your life?”
“How about your parents? Or their forefathers who came to survive and brought you to existence? Don’t you think that you are doing them a disservice by throwing in the towel, when things get challenging?”
“If you insist, then tell that to those who are trying every way and means to survive in this world.”
I said my piece, after listening intently to what he has to say and I made sure that he never harbour such thoughts again.
Indeed, I was being harsh.
While I know for a fact that every experience is unique and it varies among individuals, I also know that sometimes we all need a reality check to kick ourselves out of our gloomy days.
“Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” — Phil Donahue
Thank you for reading. Tap the clap if you like it!
