Depression: A new veiw

Depression is when you have lots of love, but no one's taking.
                                                      ~Douglas Coupland



Love. Many have it. Many express it. Given freely to those surrounding one. Often taken enthusiastically by others. Love creates an unbreakable bond with another soul. This bond may change form. This bond may never change. This bond may grow weak. This bond may grow strong.

A distinct line occurs from having and giving. Often this two way street people believe the lanes to be synonymous. You can not take with out giving love. Correct?

Wrong.

Imagine two cities. These cities connect by a single highway. One going to the other. One coming from the other. Each city has jurisdiction up to the half-way point between them. One city leaves both lanes wide open, accepting supplies and trade from the other city and giving in return. The other city sends the supplies and trade, but refuse to accept it.

The city keeping both lanes open puzzles over as to why this is. They feel guilty over accepting all of this and yet giving nothing in turn. Slowly the trade they accept trickles to a halt. They cut themselves off. Slowly the city starves to death.

That is depression. Or a version. You keep accepting love from those around you. Yet. . .others do not accept it from you. You don't want to be selfish. You already are so much of the time. You start to recede, trying to be less obtrusive to those around you. You recede so far. . .nothing. Nothing keeps you company. You emotionally starve yourself because you feel selfish.

The worst part? They let you.