On Depression

Lately I have noticed ads on television about depression. For someone new in a western country like me, it makes me curious. For one, growing up in a Filipino society whom many studies have said as one of the world’s most resilient people, I find depression as something new. There’s no commercial on it in television and its rarely talk about. It has been discussed in classes but I cannot actually picture out what depression is. It’s an add-up to my vocabulary.

A photo of a smiling Filipino carrying a baby while trying to evacuate from a calamity is something natural. We do make things light out of the situation. Filipinos seemed to be in no mode to get depressed, we laugh at our misery and somehow find joy despite of our situation. Of course this comes also for the fact that Filipinos do have strong support system in an extended family. There are downsides for this for sure, but that’s another story to tell.  

When international press makes a buzz out of how Filipinos can smile in such situation, it makes me actually comment, “What’s something special of that? That’s how it is. It’s natural.” However, having in contact with other cultures as well, I find it now understandable those reactions are, because it’s actually something different.

Seeing people depressed is actually disquieting when there is so much to do and so many reasons to live. How much more for Christians who has more to live for in Christ? There is no reason to be depressed when you are in Christ. Depression is oppression. Let us not be depressed, instead lets find way to express and we will be impressed.  Life is still good.

by aats