Depression

 DEPRESSION

 The insidious malady called depression came to mind, 

when  two very noted personalities we read were said to be suffering from it.  

One  a very young world-renowned lady athlete,  

while the other a former president of the Philippines in his 60's.  

The latter had since passed on.

Over the years we had heard so much about this condition 

But kept a safe distance of the topic paying only nodding attention. 

But now we are told that the world has seen its prevalence. 

And with large numbers in agony, we give it its due attention

 It is a very real, consumptive, and debilitating ailment.

 

Worse, it could also be career-ending and life-threatening.  

Necessitating professionals specialized in such conditions.

We had  nonchalantly associated depression with loneliness, or melancholy. 

Not giving it the gravity that it deserved.

 Now medical professionals labor and toil to do something.  

Many of us also went through such forlorn periods of feeling very low, 

at times we did not even want to get out of our beds to face the world.

I remember my own episodes when I was still single and unemployed.  

But somehow we out-grew it though not that the condition has deserted us for life, 

but somehow we have been able to lessen not only its gravity but its frequency.  

Somehow also we learned to tackle with it, each in our own ways.  

Maybe the resolution being  when we turned to a higher power 

and lodged the providence of our health and safety in that kind of faith.

Still as mere mortals with very limited knowledge and understanding 

of such an insidious and almost invisible enemy, 

We surrender our ignorance and abide our trust on others.

To those educated as  better equipped.

We should resolve to continue our own searches for truths about it. 

And thus they ought not be stifled, neglected, or even dismissed by others.  

We can only be better persons if we are curious about its ramifications.

In the midst of all this, may it also be incumbent that as a species, 

we duly acknowledge that we  have changed a lot, 

occasioned by a civilization that has gotten more and more complicated.

Worsened by our having to live in very close quarters with so diverse peoples

 with very diverse ideas.

It could be likened to what is happening in the US since the last several years. 

And happening to younger and more educated people. 

They are angrier, more and more intolerant, and very hateful. 

And appearing quite ill-equipped to handle challenges in daily life. 

Thus, we see this erupting in violence and other forms of miscreant behavior.