Black Dog

I am not referring to member of the canine family. I am talking of depression. Winston Churchill was an occasional sufferer and described his worst episodes as the above.

It is a nasty condition. Every bit as painful to it's sufferer as any physical ailment could be, but with no outward cause. The victim may pass you by on a street and you would not even notice. And yet the victim will be in a world of invisible pain.

It is one of those conditions however that enjoys a mixed reputation. Victims can come across as as self absorbed, introverted. victims can seem as though they have brought it on themselves. I have, myself just thought  "Snap out of it!" in their presence, as though it is just a simple mood swing. 

I have witnessed at first hand the devastation it can cause. I have/am a sufferer (and yes I like to talk about my self!), I spent last winter on treatment for Anxiety/depression. I am good now. Hurrah for Citalopram! It worked very well for me and after 6 months I was weaned off and by and large have been good. I should have had some counselling but bottled when the chance came because i was feeling good  and didn't want to ruin it.

A best friend of my ex wife was also a sufferer and in the end it cost her her life. Aided and abetted by a hospital ward with no understanding of the disease.

There is very real pain involved.

It can be all to often a term abused by those seeking attention or a sense of the dramatic. Depressives are often  seen as shirkers.

To all those who would deny  depression victims the benefit of the doubt I would just say think twice before labelling them in an unflattering manner. They just might be a sick as they say.

I have heard of some interesting research that seems to have emanated form Edinburgh University. The main thrust is that in fact manic depressives (bi polar) in fact have a very clear grasp of the world and see situations more clearly than the optimists. As the saying says "If you are not panicking yet you really don't understand the situation!".

More lately though, according to a program I heard on the radio some years ago, although depression sufferers see the world more clearly, optimists win all of life's prizes. 

Life may be in uncomfortable short and wet but optimists get to do it in greater comfort.

 Proof that it is better to be happy than right if ever I saw it