As I write this entry, we have just gotten back from a 10 day vacation. While not the longest vacation I have been on, this has certainly been one of the longer ones. And, even though we were physically gone for 10 days, I was off of work for 16 days. I am just getting back into work and our regular routines, and it has been challenging. Who knew a little over two weeks out of my daily life would throw me off so much?
However, as I started thinking about it, I am sure my experience here pales in comparison to those with depression. Only two weeks away probably seems like a dream compared to the disruption that depression brings. Depression can last for months, years, a lifetime – and there are times when getting back to a “regular routine” seems impossible. I have no right to compare my experience to depression, but my point is that I have recently had a taste of what it feels like to have my regular routines thrown off, and it can be unsettling, even if it was for a planned and/or joyous reason.
Just thinking about this comparison makes me realize how little I know about depression. I can talk about the research, the numbers, and the stories I’ve heard, but unless I have had depression I can not honestly talk about what that experience is like. Not that I want to have depression (who does?), but I hope my insights are helpful and not condescending. I want to be empathetic, but I also understand I come at it as a bystander.
How do you feel about having your regular routines interrupted? Do you enjoy it at first? Is there a point where it becomes unsettling? Does thinking about routines help describe how depression can cause disruptions in life, relationships, work, etc.?