A Spring of Joy

A friend recently sent me a link to an article called Describing the Indescribable. (The poem is a link within a link, so be sure to read the article, then download the poem.)

It’s a wonderful piece written by Dr. David P. Murray, and it describes the darkness of depression and the way it immobilizes you, but it describes the joy that comes with freedom from depression, too. Being a melancholy, I’ve always had a pessimistic and sadder bent to my life, feeling everything deeply. But I had never experienced a darkness so profound as I did recently when I underwent test upon test upon test exacerbating fear upon fear upon fear. Going off my life-giving thyroid medication (a necessary part of the testing) impacts emotional centers, and the depression that came over me made even breathing difficult at times.

This poem gives words to my experience in way I cannot. I hope it will encourage those of you who may be struggling with depression. I hope it will make those of you who don’t struggle with depression more aware of what it is and how it impacts. And I hope it encourages us all to encourage one another.

As my friend wrote when he sent the link:

“I weep because I need someone else to give words to my experience.
I rejoice because someone else can give words to my experience.”