I do not understand depression. Till about a couple of years ago (ignorant as this might be) I wasn’t even aware it was an actual condition. My surroundings comprised a mix of ‘sad and happy’ people. It was that simplified for me. A straight-up case of binary.
Personal encounters and social media have since successfully fragmented this notion.
While I will not pretend to understand the complexities of this condition, I can safely say that I have seen it. I have seen it eat away at the essence of close friends, till their lively grins and smirks are slowly replaced with forced smiles and a preference for solitude. I have seen affectionate embraces turn to stiff greetings. I have seen beacons of light become shadows of their former selves.
There is just one thing to be taken away from this.
Every case is different. It is, to me, simply a matter of being approachable. When someone talks, listen. Irrespective of whether they are depressed or not.
Simply listen, when someone who doesn’t usually speak, talks to you.
We aren’t all medical practitioners, but we do have the ability to listen.
At the least, we can all do that.
Perspective
-Abhay Budki
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