"Depression is an experience of depletion. You're worn down, hollowed out, devoid of enthusiasm or vitality. Your senses are dull, perhaps to the point of taking in very little around you" [emphasis mine] (Psychology Today).
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| Real-life bout with severe, snotty cold symptoms...resembling depression? |
So, a few years ago I began to write my feelings down, first in a quiet, journaling format. I then began to blog, seasoned with parables, maybe to fight fire with fire. "Parables and stories are the language of the heart" (Rev. Kyle Idleman).
The parables or stories I employ sometimes have a child-like flavor, for which I cannot help myself. Maybe I'm attempting to redeem an unproductive childhood and make the effects of being raised in a dark alcoholic home brighter. This blog follows the parable format, because I can find no other positive way to communicate the depths of depression I've experienced. Before reading on, a stiff cup of caffeinated beverage might be needed, for focused flight and to follow the mindset of PTSD [Post-traumatic Stress Disorder].
I compare our five heightened senses to a dragon. Heightened senses are the positive aspect of my depression. The adrenalized productive beast has:
Dragons are seldom heroes in movies, except in rare films like How to Train Your Dragon. This movie not only warms up to dragons, it portrays resourceful Teen Hiccup, a Viking leader's son, successfully discovering intriguing ways to connect with the scariest dragon on the planet... Night Fury.
Because of Night Fury's disabled tail, he is downed (flightless) and vulnerable. He needs Hiccup's TLC (tender loving care) as well as the sustaining and healthful fish he brings. Hiccup resourcefully gives Night Fury (dubbed Toothless) renewed flight. They form an unlikely bond. They connect with each other like a boy with his beloved dog.
In the small Village of Berk, "12 days north of Hopeless located on the Meridian of Misery," Hiccup's Viking family either subdues dragons, slays them, or locks them up to use for dragon-killing practice. Brave Vikings are maimed and even killed by dragons. They've never consorted with the deadly creatures. Fire-breathing dragons are scary, and the poaching villains repeatedly fly away with Berk's sheep and other livestock, taking them to a massive, rocky fortification.
The Bible's New Testament (Luke 24:13-35) shares an event that occurs 3 days after Jesus' death on the cross. Two of His followers walk together on the Road to Emmaus, a 7-mile journey from Jerusalem. Cleopas and the other are discussing tragic events. They've lost their leader and hoped-for Savior. Three years of heightened, possibly entitlement beliefs to overthrow the cruel Roman government are dashed. They are "downcast," and it appears their senses are functioning poorly.
Jesus' followers deal with their beasts of depression as Vikings deal with their dragons. The two followers appear to subdue their dragons with a walk to Emmaus; Disciple Peter chooses to lock up his dragon and drag on, to his former occupation fishing; Judas demonstrably kills his dragon.
The Disciples (akin to behavior of the Vikings) believe it is unwise to fraternize with what they feel is a dangerous dragon. The two distracted and downcast followers keenly display dulled senses in eyesight and hearing. They don't recognize an important Person, right in front of their eyes... their reason for hope, Savior God.
Jesus' brief return to earth is to vanquish hopelessness. He opens eyes, to look for the positive Sixth Sense... the Fire. Just as the Vikings eyes are opened to the positive power of the dragon and its fire.
A 2013 blog shares beginning insights to my dragon. Admittedly, each person's "dragon" is different, just as there are numerous breeds of dogs and cats. In my blog I connect with my dragon and uncover that my real enemy is not depression. It is instead the negative spin on my senses, with a snotty malaise of misery, and a bastion of hopeless self-talk:
What ways might I errantly subdue my dragon? I might attempt to distract myself in numerous ways, like the Disciples.
My concluding question is: Why do I dare partner with my beast?
My answer: To break a vicious, repetitive cycle of poaching. that steals a cornucopia of senses. robbing my colorful identity and morphing me into a stoic, flat Viking.
Do I throw out the baby with the dirty bath water, or, do I nurture the baby and train it? Rather than anesthetizing myself with alcohol or taking a drag on whatever, what other options do I have? Some depression sufferers NEED prescription medications; however my depression is a complicated, spirited, toxin-related variety and seems somewhat TLC trainable, as I explain in the knotty, natty "G-nona" link below.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"
(II Timothy 1:7).
With Savior God's help (John 3:16), I attempt to, head-on, recognize (but not follow) what I call my second-self, located down a spiraling fortification. Drag on and meet: "G-natty, G-nagging G-nona"
- Piercing eyes (sight),
- A smokey essence (smell),
- Impenetrable, knotty, leathery skin (touch),
- Intense fangs and teeth (taste),
- Swooshing, whipping tail (sound).
- Two powerful aspects of the creature are its wings for flight and potential to shoot fire (the Sixth Sense).
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| Wish my dragon was this cute! |
Dragons are seldom heroes in movies, except in rare films like How to Train Your Dragon. This movie not only warms up to dragons, it portrays resourceful Teen Hiccup, a Viking leader's son, successfully discovering intriguing ways to connect with the scariest dragon on the planet... Night Fury.
Because of Night Fury's disabled tail, he is downed (flightless) and vulnerable. He needs Hiccup's TLC (tender loving care) as well as the sustaining and healthful fish he brings. Hiccup resourcefully gives Night Fury (dubbed Toothless) renewed flight. They form an unlikely bond. They connect with each other like a boy with his beloved dog.
In the small Village of Berk, "12 days north of Hopeless located on the Meridian of Misery," Hiccup's Viking family either subdues dragons, slays them, or locks them up to use for dragon-killing practice. Brave Vikings are maimed and even killed by dragons. They've never consorted with the deadly creatures. Fire-breathing dragons are scary, and the poaching villains repeatedly fly away with Berk's sheep and other livestock, taking them to a massive, rocky fortification.
The Bible's New Testament (Luke 24:13-35) shares an event that occurs 3 days after Jesus' death on the cross. Two of His followers walk together on the Road to Emmaus, a 7-mile journey from Jerusalem. Cleopas and the other are discussing tragic events. They've lost their leader and hoped-for Savior. Three years of heightened, possibly entitlement beliefs to overthrow the cruel Roman government are dashed. They are "downcast," and it appears their senses are functioning poorly.
The Disciples (akin to behavior of the Vikings) believe it is unwise to fraternize with what they feel is a dangerous dragon. The two distracted and downcast followers keenly display dulled senses in eyesight and hearing. They don't recognize an important Person, right in front of their eyes... their reason for hope, Savior God.
Jesus' brief return to earth is to vanquish hopelessness. He opens eyes, to look for the positive Sixth Sense... the Fire. Just as the Vikings eyes are opened to the positive power of the dragon and its fire.
A 2013 blog shares beginning insights to my dragon. Admittedly, each person's "dragon" is different, just as there are numerous breeds of dogs and cats. In my blog I connect with my dragon and uncover that my real enemy is not depression. It is instead the negative spin on my senses, with a snotty malaise of misery, and a bastion of hopeless self-talk:
inferiority → ← entitlement
entitlement → ← inferiority
inferiority → ← entitlement
entitlement → ← inferiority
inferiority → ← entitlement
What ways might I errantly subdue my dragon? I might attempt to distract myself in numerous ways, like the Disciples.
My concluding question is: Why do I dare partner with my beast?
My answer: To break a vicious, repetitive cycle of poaching. that steals a cornucopia of senses. robbing my colorful identity and morphing me into a stoic, flat Viking.
Do I throw out the baby with the dirty bath water, or, do I nurture the baby and train it? Rather than anesthetizing myself with alcohol or taking a drag on whatever, what other options do I have? Some depression sufferers NEED prescription medications; however my depression is a complicated, spirited, toxin-related variety and seems somewhat TLC trainable, as I explain in the knotty, natty "G-nona" link below.
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind"
(II Timothy 1:7).
With Savior God's help (John 3:16), I attempt to, head-on, recognize (but not follow) what I call my second-self, located down a spiraling fortification. Drag on and meet: "G-natty, G-nagging G-nona"
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