Depression

Written from Personal Experience

Depression

 

I awoke in a place where I never had been,
where all my life’s years seemed no help to me.
I felt that the stem of my mind had been sheared
as I sunk way down deep into that murky sea.

 

The darkness, the burden, the weight, the despair,
whatever the reason, out shadowed the light.
My soul screamed within me, how did I get there?
but I knew in my heart that no help was in sight.

 

When gloom was upon me and doubts all around,
and my mind was in anguish and terrible pain.
When I should have gone mad, and give up life’s long fight,
I knew I was losing, and may not ‘live’ again.

 

When desolate and torn, down a bottomless pit,
and there’s nobody there that can  help you to see.
You have but two choices, give up and remain,
or conquer your feelings and try to get free.

 

A small voice, a whisper, then spoke in my mind,
and struggled to reason and bring back my will.
Then slowly, so slowly it showed me the way
to find a frail path, through the mire up the hill.

 

This way was so fraught it was hard to stay true,
there seemed no release from my nightmarish plight.
But stirring within me, the part that meant life,
raised up from my innards and took up the fight.

 

When struggling upwards I often felt, ‘why’,
had I really the reason, or strength to succeed?
It would be far more simple to fade out and die,
but pride and esteem were the tools that did lead.

 

I have several friends who fell down there before,
who’ve trod where I suffered in hell and in vain.
Alas, none of them have returned from their trap,
have ever got back on ‘their’ pathway again.

 

Pure logic and sense, both knocked hard at my door,
my family who loved me, my friends were still there.
This gave me the strength to see out from my night,
and helped heal my soul, then I started to care.

 

The process of healing was painful and slow,
no medicines or drugs, but the essence of life.
The hard choice of living to see my tomorrows,
and share in the love of my children and wife.

 

I again live my life, and enjoy it to the full,
though our bodies are weak and our minds can be ill.
But the ‘meaning of life’ and the part that is you
must never be compromised; say what you will.

 

Live every day and enjoy all that you meet,
but be ready for ‘heartache and pain’.
And pray that you’ll be able to use all that is ‘you’,
to rise from the ashes and live life again.

Reviews

[Beatrice Boyle (Grandm..]

Wow Ivor...like the Phoenix...you DID rise from the ashes...a tribute to the strong man that you are!
Love (and determination) conquers all.

I'm so glad...our OUR sake, you persevered...what a lovely legacy of writing you'll leave behind, not to mention, role model for others in the same predicament.

Write on my friend...you are so welcome here!

Bea

[Mark]

For some interesting takes on Depression, try reading the books of Psalms and Proverbs.
For a few interesting remedies, try the book of James.
Depression is just another tool we've been given to illustrate where and how we've dropped the ball.
Some take it as such, and work their way free, as you did.
Some allow themselves to be crushed beneath it, as I nearly was.
I commend you, but your reprieve did not come from pride, or esteem, or friends, or logic, or sense
(Pp.7-9) It came from the God you so readily dismiss.

[Viper9]

I like this story of triumph, Ivor. I, too, have struggled with depression throughout my life (since I was a child). You captured the experience of many people, in these verses, I think. Except, perhaps, not everyone was able to find the path out, as you did.

Bravo!