The Message Is: Get Help and LIVE!

Depression is an illness and like all illnesses we should get medical treatment to get better. That is the point of my previous article: If you are a depression sufferer, get help because with help you can still live a good life. THAT is my point: Get help and LIVE -- to the fullest!

I lived because I got help, unasked. The reason I didn't ask for help wasn't because I didn't need it. Nor because I thought, "Yes, I am suffering from depression but God will heal me!" No, I am not stupid! If for a simple bout of flu, I seek medical help, you can be sure that for something such as depression, I would have sought help. I would have prayed and got help! I didn't seek help because I didn't know that the problem was depression. I didn't know what was going on then because I was a mess!

I thought that the underlying problems were faith-related. You see, during that time, I had lost faith. I didn't believe. But, for some reason, I could not reject Jesus Christ because He lived and was a historical person. I figured that if He really is God He would have to show that to me through my human understanding, faulty though the latter is! And, I started to read the Bible to know what I could know. As I did that, a peculiar thing happened. I found out that when I approached the Bible from a position of rational thought, my internal stress remained. But, when I approached by faith and not rational thought my internal stress reduced.

Of course, my survival instincts intuitively told me to opt for the less stressful course which was to believe the Bible by faith, Consequently I found I was getting better. So, I exercised faith and got better day by day!

It was only much later when I realised that the problem was depression that I went to see a psychiatrist to confirm it. He said yes, it was depression but that the worst was over. It was then that I was overcome with overwhelming gratitude for what God had done. I thought I was addressing faith issues but through it I got the help I needed to get through depression. Only God could have done that. That was when I realised that He showed me who He really is. I am eternally grateful for what He has done and make no apologies for what I believe. This was my journey of faith. I didn't plan it; it happened the way it did.

Even then, I got medical help. I was on medication for a month and didn't have to go back again. By faith I was able to confront the demons of my past and booted them out. No more haunting from the past! That is how it has been since then!

The point I want to make now is simply this: If you are a depression sufferer get help. Infact, get all the help you can. I think depression is more prevalent than people are willing to admit. Instead of suffering quietly, get help and live. That is the point: Get all the help you can -- spiritual, emotional, physical and medical -- and live to the fullest!

Having said that, I want to add here that although I hate saying "goodbye", I do say them! Infact, some goodbyes are final and necessary. If someone close to you passes away or a bad relationship has to come to an end, it is better to say goodbye. As is normal, I hurt, but I recover. I let go and move on.

So, my dear Fishie, why be miserable? You are just going four hours north to Kampar! That is not "goodbye". That is: "Go, go. Do your thing and live it up! And, occasionally drop me a note about how you are." Keep in touch!

You know, some of my Form Six mates and our English Literature lecturer with whom we got on fabulously still keep in touch. When we were starting out on our careers we didn't have time to meet up. But, now that we are established and have more time on our hands, we meet up, like once a year, always around Christmas and it is fun. We are good company!

So, we can do the same, too. Why don't we meet up over coffee before you go off to Kampar? Get some of the others to join us -- like Agnes, Raagi, Raga (if his train from Kajang will come on time!), Kai Fu (especially, him!), Meng Leong, Brian and some of the others. I would like to see you all before you go off. We could meet at SP Corner or at any other place you like. Could you get in touch with them and organise it, Fishie? Agnes has my email so you can contact me immediately and I can give you my new phone number. I know it is a bit rushed but we could still make it. I would be free on Tues after 2, Wed after 4, Thurs after 3 and Fri after 4pm.

Shall we get together? I still am waiting for Kai Fu to buy me coffee under the banana tree!