Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Isolation

One of the greatest battles I continually wage against depression is isolation. Isolation is depressions great trickster. Isolation promises us so much in the way of relief from our symptoms it is hard to resist. We are lured into it by the illusion of relief, comfort and restoration, only to be tripped into despair.

In fact I can think of nothing more destructive to a depressed person than the act of isolating. When we isolate we disconnect from all that holds us into living a normal life. We leave our friends, partners and workmates behind with our silence.

Isolation removes us from the vitality and energy that is truly restorative and energizing to our spirits. However, when we are deeply depressed and sliding into that abyss, isolation seems like a port in the storm. Like a siren's song, isolation lures us onto its rocky shores to meet our demise. We must call upon our friends, partners and workmates as we drift onto the shores of isolation.

The only way to combat the lure of isolation is to develop a sound safety plan, much like Ulysses did when he encountered the sirens calling him to their rocky shoreline. In order to hear the siren's song and remain safe and sound he ordered his shipmates to fasten him to the mast of the ship they travelled aboard. He also ordered his men to plug their ears with wax and disregard his calls to them for release. His plan worked and he was safely able to hear the siren's song while his men carried on around him. That is what a sound safety plan will do for us, keep us safe and sound while our friends come to our aid.

In order to combat isolation we must enlist our friends, partners and workmates to protect us against the siren song of isolation. Communication to a close circle of friends some danger signs of our slide into isolation is what we require to remain safe. We need them to help pull us up and out of our isolating behaviors. Then and only then can we continue to keep depression at bay and the lure of the siren song of isolation free from derailing our recovery.

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