Depression: Loved Ones Also Suffer

All of those who suffer from depression, and those who have loved ones with depression, understand the flood of emotion that comes with difficult times in their life. The emotional tight rope that depressed individuals walk everyday can be pricked like a guitar string, at a moments notice, throwing them into an emotional tail spin. A good, happy day very quickly erodes into a very bad day full of tears and those familiar thoughts of overwhelming despair and helplessness. No words will comfort and all of your thoughts are negative.

For those who suffer from it, depression can be a devastating condition. It can also be just as devastating for those who want to help but can seemingly do nothing. Seeing someone you love sit, curled up in a chair crying uncontrollably for hours at a time cuts at your soul like a razor. And then seeing all of your efforts, to help the matter, fall to waist side without having any positive affect can break even the strongest person.

As a loved one of a person who suffers from depression, I struggle everyday with my helplessness and inability to provide enough support to help calm the storm. It is the nature of a man to try and help those that he loves, but I often find that I am completely unable to help. I can't find those 'magic words' that she needs to calm her emotions. The frustration and agony of not being able to help takes an emotional toll on me, as well.

I've read many articles and heard many stories where this scenario leads to divorce. I can understand how someone may decide that they just can't deal with it any more. I, on the other hand, refuse to give up. I believe that love and patients will defeat the depression. It has been a long, hard row to hoe, so far, but I refuse to break. My love and determination grows each day. With that determination I will continue to search for those 'magic words'. If I ever find them, I will be sure to pass them along. I'm sure I'm not alone in my struggles, so I hope that one day I'll be able to pass along something that may help another.

May God bless you and may God continue to bless America.