102. Self-Destruction

To treat depression as a sworn enemy is good advice, but you don't say "how." This is rather like sending out an army patrol with instructions to destroy the enemy, but giving them no weapons; no tools. With what tools does one fight this enemy?

The Kabbalists explained to us that when the time for our spiritual development arrives, G_d will evoke in us a feeling of emptiness from our pleasures in this world. Eventually the void will force humanity to move in a new direction to create a new world. The structure is already there - a connected world. This is the beginning of the spiritual world system - mutual reciprocity, integratation - "As One Man In One Heart". Gradually we will arise to the next level of our destiny.

Depression is part of life, and I take issue with "religious" Jews who say, run from it. It's death itself and worse. I can think of a lot of reasons to feel the dark side of life, and it would be a very pollyanna world if we said, just fight it. We go to deep places often, and we need help to find ways out of those places. But they exist. Pretending they don't exist or that we aren't given that pit to fall into, by this same G_d, would be lying.

Depression can both mobilize and immobilize. It's not death but can feel that way, and the best of us, have been there. It's not right, to make people feel there's something wrong with being depressed. Some of the most honest people I know go there, and those who were deemed manic depressives, actually were the Biblical people of vision. Despair is a human condition and often humane too. Depression has many causes, but we all go there, and I am saying, to tell someone it's "bad" is just wrong. It's the other side, the light has a shadow side.

Define depression; are the symptoms identifyably similar in all/everone/most individuals diagnosed (self-diagnosed) with depression? Many of the comments posted are vague. What causes/sets off depression? What helps, other than "running"?

I am not Jewish in this life but I think I was in another. I have chronic depression and have found this practice very helpful. I do it in the car, talking a walk on our farm, looking up at the stars ... and I try for every day. For me, most emphatically, a spiritual discipline is an essential part of the mix to climbing out of the hole.

I have been fighting depression for over 45 years. Unless you have experienced the darkness of depression, I don't believe that you can truly speak to it. I don't think religion, faith, belief, etc., has anything to do with it, except unfortunately I find Judaism treats it as a weakness - that a person isn't really trying. I find the glibness sometimes very hurtful and I feel sorry for those who do not guide those of us suffering to something more substantial - rather than suggesting hanging with happy people - oh please come on! To those out there who are suffering, I do not have the answer but I will continue to search.

A simplistic analysis. Nothing incorrect about it. Offers no solution or help to a depressed person, who probably knows (from bitter experience) all that has been said in that analysis.
To comment on another's sadness/misfortune/state of mind is easy, but without real help, it simply rubs salt into a festering (mental) wound. Better to keep quiet than to upset a sufferer even more.

How do you run from something that is you, but shrouded in the unknown? I think the best way to overcome it, is to face it, and understand it. Its there because its taking the place of something that's not there but should be there. And what that is, is quite possibly a clue to a new purpose in life. I feel running from it will only make it chase you. I have loved ones who do fight it and run from it, and they are still running from it now. I however, plunged myself into it with the intent to get to the bottom of its source. I emerged feeling like Gandalf the White.

Depression I found is another one of those darknesses that covers an immense light and once that's penetrated, the light of the shekina, and how all is one shines. I learned so much from Daily Dose. Perhaps, I just need to understand what you mean by run away.

HOW? I have fought this all my life - believe me, it's no way to live. I mean no disrespect in this comment G-d forbid but that's how I feel

Super summary. Perfect advice. All under 60 words.