Several days ago I received a call from a client who has been battling depression on and off for a number of years. Unless one has been familiar enough with someone who has dealt with depression, it is hard to understand why they are the way they are. Many people attempt to mask their illness and just get by on a day to day basis while others are caught in roller coasters of mood swings. I have personally known someone for a number of years whose depression is so acute at times that one doesn’t really know what to expect until a conversation is started. There have been times when I’ve had to walk away and stay away for weeks and months until the acidity subsides and he is back to acting civil. With that said, the reason this particular person was calling me was to ask a general real estate question, but also to tell me that he is feeling much better and is off his medications. I knew that he and his wife were going on a short vacation and likely that was the continuation of his decision to work at getting better. He and I had a long chat some months ago about things that were road blocks in his life. Those obstacles sounded far less insurmountable to me than what he was making them appear to be.
The only thing I could do at the time was to encourage in a kind way, taking one of the smaller problems and begin tackling it. If it only would be a little bit each day, I assured him that it would show progress as well as self-fulfillment. Depression is a deadly crippler that can work its way into the mind and create an imaginary life around the victim filled with hopelessness and despair. I’m not one to baby people, but rather one who encourages and empathizes. Sometimes it’s all a person needs is real acknowledgment and a bit of a road map of direction. Remember, those who are at war with depression find themselves in a deep chasm with the light far above them and no directions to get out. I was so happy to hear he was well on his way out of his dark hole that it almost brought tears to my eyes. Believe me, I couldn’t congratulate him enough for the progress he’s made since our meeting. To think if we all would extol but only a kind word or two on those in pain, I think the world would be a happier place.
