Depression and Existence

Depression 

As you can see I am a squirrel….and I suffer from depression. As a youngster I was quite frisky and happy ……hopping from tree to tree. Just lately I’ve been hit by the blues. The other day I was gathering nuts for the winter and placing them into storage….I knew it would be a long hard winter and I wanted to be prepared. It was exhausting work. I went back to my tree….into my home and relaxed. Then suddenly, one night, I heard all this noise and chattering. I peered out from my tree hole and there were five squirrels from the neighboring clan raiding my hard earned winter supplies.

Well….I just jumped up and almost knocked my head on the upper tree branch…..I was so upset……….I was livid…….I didn’t know what to do. You see, I am a solitary squirrel that kept to myself. I like to read the occasional book on nut collecting, and would do yoga on tree branches, but other than that I am a fairly quiet squirrel.

When the neighboring clan raided my winter supply of nuts, I went over the edge….. I sank into a deep depression. I would slowly climb up the tree trunk when I headed home…..flop into my cozy den…..and lay there with my four paws strait up in the air. I would lay there for days. Occasionally, I would roll over and peer out from my tree …….but I had no inclination to leave my den. The weather was blah and I just felt like sleeping.

A friend of mine – Sigmund - came over one day and said “Cyber, you should see a doctor! I think you are depressed. You have all the signs of depression”. So I asked my friend “What are the signs of depression?” Well, he said, “there are many signs of depression “. Sigmund began to list them off. Some of them are:

1. Chronic Fatigue – or loss of appetite

2. Eating too much

3. Disturbed thinking including suicidal ideation

4. Physical aches and pains which have no medical basis

5. Feeling overwhelmed

6. Inability to concentrate or remember things

7. Confusion and crying spells

8. Changes in sleeping patterns

“Okay Sigmund, that’s enough. “ I thought hmmm……..I did think about jumping from the top branch of the tree and go head first into that rock 50 feet below…..then I slapped my cheek with my right paw and said to myself “shake it off Cyber”.

The neighboring clan had already solved the problem of me eating too much! – I hope they enjoyed my winter supply!!

I was starting to wonder if I was having a chemical imbalance in my brain, and if I should see a doctor for some medications. I would advise anyone who is having suicidal thoughts or ideation to go and seek counseling and see a physician in case they need medications or therapy.

In my case, discussing my issues with a counselor over a number of sessions, and changing my expectations and life outlook helped me a lot. I learned to develop better coping skills, engaged in interpersonal therapy, and developed more relationship and problem solving skills. Through counseling, I overcame my anger issues – I forgave the neighboring clan for stealing my winter supply of food – (although, I did set traps around my next year’s supply of nuts) and came to terms with my demons.

I am happy to say that I am now practicing my tree-branch yoga, engaging in deep-breathing exercises, as I develop my inner connection to the underlying vibrations that seem to permeate through the spiritual universe.

Bless you all! With deep Love and Gratitude,

Cyber