If your depression were a physical creature, what would it be?

[aidjm]

I started thinking about this a few weeks back, and I wanted to get some other people's insights. I've done a bit of writing just for something to do, and I was thinking about writing a story about a person whose depression manifests itself as a physical being.

For me, I kind of pictured it as a big black lizard-thing that sits on my shoulders and digs in with its claws, and doesn't want to let go.

What about you guys?

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi Big Bunny,

Winston Churchill did indeed call it the Black Dog. Perhaps he was the first one to do that. He was I believe plagued by it most of his life.

I see it as black dog as well, probably only because Churchill called it that.

I wonder what William Shakespeare would have called it. (Hamlet - perhaps) It seems likely he suffered severely from it.

It seems a lot of very famous people have known depression intimately. Perhaps some have successfully tamed it or trained it, and  benefited from it in the long run.

I don't think they had anti-depressants pills in  Winston Churchills day. Perhaps blackdog was a guide dog in his case. It's possible, I suppose. Inspiring him to inspire - which he did most successfully.

If anyone is looking for a positive aspect of depression, that could be it. 

Could it even be a turning point for some, if they could come to think of it that way. ?

I think so.

Rgds.

Sea-n-sky 

[CMF]

Hi all,

Definitley an octopus like creature.  it sits on my head and makes my head heavy so I can't think straight and I just want to close me eyes,  its arms wrap around me so it feels hard to move and it squeezes the life and energy out of me. its a big creature, yet no one else can see it, it engulfs me but its funny how it shrinks away when I'm in public.  its still there but it has loosened its hold on me. I think IT is afraid of others, yet with some certain people it grows bigger or maybe these certain people have one too and they join forces?  IT is more in control when I'm at home.

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi CMF,

Hmm, I see.

A difficult one to deal with I suspect.

All those arms wrapping around you must be a bit hard to handle.

I wonder, have you "willed" (or subconsciously asked) it to  squeeze a bit more gently.

I am relieved that you used the word squeezed in your description. It indicates that perhaps it doesn't want to hurt you, but rather just  embrace you, and probably  does not fully appreciate it owns strength and the limits of your comfort zone.

Anyhow, at least it's not crushing you, so that's a definite positive.

The creature appears to be somewhat overly possessive, which again makes me think it is attracted to you.

Like any "threatening" creature, you must not give it  indication that you are in the least bit fearful of it. Try to befriend it. It will be possible.

The first step there is to subconsciously communicate with it . Let it know that you'd like to be its friend, but that in order for that to happen, it has to learn to squeeze you a bit more gently.

If it likes you, and I think that it does, (it would seek out someone else if it didn't) it will respond accordingly. Will all those arms to help you, it could become an good friend to have. Indeed an exceptionally good one I suggest. 

Think of it as a positive, make it your friend.

Looking forward I can only see it potentially becoming a benefit to you, if you can achieve that objective.

Don't fight it - convert it, - into your friendly personal assistant.

It's a simple strategy - turn that which seems negative, into a positive.

Mind over matter, - as they say.

It works. 

I hope the foregoing is of  help.

Cheers,

Sea-n-sky. 

[Urbanhippees]

it is a catfish for me. One prick and I am infected by its slime. All consuming pain that is  not treated by conventional methods 

[CMF]

Thank you so much sea-n-sky

I'll give it a go.

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi again CMF,

Giving it a go - that's just great.

That is the start that you need

I sure hope it works.

C ya,

Sea-n-sky.

[Bluererer]

It's a paralysing tick. Sometimes it injects poison into me and I can't function. I will sit for days on end thinking I should be doing this or that but end up doing nothing. Sometimes I can't even make a small decision, like today when I went to the shops, I couldn't decide which parking spot to take so I drove around and around getting further away from the shops,

My medication is an antidote to the poison but doesn't kill the tick. People wonder why I can't just kill it but I don't know exactly where it is. Sometimes it seems like its gone, but suddenly I feel it.  I've learned to live with it, I think.

[white knight]

I reckon a bat.  They fly at night, dark, mystical, evil looking creatures that always "hang around"...

I'm not white knight....I'm batman....lol

[Sea-n-sky]

Hi White knight,

BATMAN indeed ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

Wow, now that's the right attitude to have.

It's Fantastic.

Wonderwoman,  - where are you ?

 So there you are everybody,

that's a really positive solution.

lol.

Cheers,

Sea-n-sky

[Jo3]

OK, so some days I feel like wonder woman because of everything I have to do and cope with - I really don't know how I do it.

Physical creature - I think I would be a beautiful coloured striped fish swimming along the bay where the water is calm and clear crystal blue. The waves would topple me over but I would always come back up floating and swimming again. Peaceful and serene.

Jo