“This is my depressed stance. When you’re depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you’ll start to feel better. If you’re going to get any joy out of being depressed, you’ve got to stand like this.”
~Charlie Brown
As we wrestle with our embedded issues, we realize that the battle is in largely inside of us. The last few days have been very hard, and I have a dark presence pressing on me; there is a subsequent reaction in my heart.
As a born-again believer who gets deeply challenged by depression, I simply cannot fathom life outside my faith in Jesus. How do unbelievers do it? The Holy Spirit meets me, holds me, and speaks peaceful things to me. I have been promised things of wonder and of grace.
I’ve discovered that self-pity and discouragement are main ingredients into my excursions through bleakness and sadness. In my more profound plummets into the pit, I find myself seeing the physical world around me drained of color. Everything around me is in “black and white.” (I have been told this is one of many symptoms of depression.)
Charlie Brown hits the nail on the head in this quote. Often I catch myself smiling, and I immediately stop and say, “Wait. I’m very depressed. I can’t be seen smiling, or talking with a dear friend.” Often we choose to act in ways that reinforces our illness. We think we have to be a certain way, stand in another, or even walk like we think a depressive walks. (After all, we have an image to live up to.)
Depression is very real. Medication is mandated for many. But truthfully, there is this other element of extending this image to others. Our self-pity works hand-in-hand with our image and identity. We have to be somebody, even if we are crazy people.
I know this blog has been a challenge at times. I know I haven’t always been accurate or trustworthy. I write these daily blogs out of my attitudes and issues and problems. But there is a “Charlie Brown Depression” the type where we feel like we are inconsolable all the time. (Maybe Mr. Brown should be our new patron saint of “lost causes?”)
If while in the pit, and for some reason you think of something rare that’s funny. Smile, its okay. I’m learning that things are never as sad or grim as I think, nor are they rosy and joy saturated either. Be real. Be real to yourself. Walk in the truth. And take your meds, lol.
Related articles
- Self-Encouragement, Understood (brokenbelievers.com)
- 11 Warning Signs of Depression (brokenbelievers.com)
- Charlie Brown and Snoopy: A Brief History (neatorama.com)
Your message reminded me of the days when I first became a Christian, at age thirteen. I had had no church affiliation and, on becoming a Catholic, I chose St. Jude for a patron saint. I chose him because he is the patron of lost causes. As a senior citizen, when I thought about my choice, I realized that I had been depressed at least since 55 years ago. I believed I was a lost cause because I seemed to displease everyone who crossed my path. Even now, I ask myself, “Is this depression or is it normal sorrow caused by a great loss?” As much as I love Jesus and hope to see Him in Heaven some day, I still feel sad to be living every day without the love and companionship of friends. I do have friends from my Bible study, but I am reluctant to try to expand these friendships because of the way my husband and I live. He is basically an atheist and sometimes makes unfriendly comments about religion even in front of my Christian friends. He is intelligent, industrious, gregarious, and a good provider. As a Catholic young adult, I didn’t expect much more from a man. Most men I knew only went to church because they were required to. We’ve been married over 40 years, and I used to have hope always that ‘things will get better”. Now, it seems I no reason to hope. I haven’t found any new friends in years. I do try to convince myself that I have something to live for, but it seems to be true that the future is bleak. Those who support me will die and leave me alone. There are a few truly Christian women whom I enjoy, but they are 100% sold-out Christians who have little acceptance for the ungodly elements in my family life. In other words, it’s hard for me to find positive thoughts and keep them. So maybe I’m a Charlie Brown. I keep trying to think my way out of it, Meanwhile, I’ll keep reading your blog, hoping to find some guidance onto another path. It IS helpful that you leave messages and that others make meaningful responses. Thanks to all.
What a generous reply! I think what I’m thinking of a oyster producing pearls. The pain does produce something precious. We have to believe this! We have to.
Thanks for connecting and sharing so frankly and with so much awareness.
ybic, Bryan
Brother Bryan, your blog and posts are a light in the darkness! Even though you are depressed, you carry on. It is the ‘resilience’ that matters. We cannot see the walk but we can feel and sense the pain through your words. I came to God and Jesus in a prison cell after my first high. The corresponding low allowed me to place my faith in the Holy Spirit. I had tried every other way.
Thanks for the encouragement. I so appreciate it.
Sorry it took so long. I had a bad day.
http://thenoreaster.wordpress.com/2011/07/28/broken-believers-broken-dreams/
(Always loved that Charlie Brown.
)
I understand bad days. Your post is great and perceptive, I did some very minor editing. Thank you. I cranked out a signature for you and added you to our link page.
ybic, Bryan
Bryan, One of my favorite Peanuts scenes is in A Charlie Brown Christmas when Charlie Brown goes to Lucy’s psychiatric booth. She starts listing various phobias that might be his problem. Finally she says, “How about Pantophobia, maybe you have pantophobia?” “What’s that?” asks Charlie. “The fear of everything,” Lucy replies. “THAT’S IT!” yells Charlie. But even in Charlie Brown’s life some good comes, and he does end up picking out a pretty good tree.
Hope this got a smile. You’re in my prayers. Peace, Linda
I think that we can become mental or emotional hypocondriacs, lol.