I stand at the sink.
In the sink are a coffee cup,
a cereal bowl,
and a spoon.
At this moment,
the energy it will take
to move these three items
from the sink to the dishwasher
seems overwhelming.
I can not do it.

This is depression.

For me, it lasts 72 hours.
For you, maybe months–
years.

I have respect for you–
for the phenomenal challenge
you face each day.
It's not a matter of,
"getting over it."
It runs so much deeper:
it's lacking the energy,
the motivation,
to do the most basic of tasks:
brush your teeth,
shower,
eat–
all too much,
meaningless,
empty.

Just saying,
"I am depressed,"
was effort enough…

…but helped me turn a corner.

Text and image © 2012 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.