It is only when we have begun to experience the sanity and healing of the program, studying the Steps and then returning to the meetings week after week, it is then, and only then, that we have the desire to want to bring this message of hope to those still suffering. Too often those who are hurting the most have the least desire to stick out the weekly meetings and which can produce a belief that they will be healed. They just don’t believe that anything good can happen to them. This of course is where they make a mistake. Their depression continues to inform them that no matter what they do or the actions that they take on their own behalf, it seems that nothing provides relief. I remember the times I informed two gentlemen, each at different times within a two-week period to come to our program and give it a try to see if they might begin to feel differently. I told them most, if not all those who come to our group, almost always felt better after getting actively involved in our program. They both declined my invitation. Within the next month, both had completed suicide. They chose death over the possibility of life. One of the recently deceased told me what would he gain by going to a meeting with a bunch of depressed people? Wasn’t he depressed enough? In a sense he was right. If a depressed person goes to a Depressed Anonymous meeting and they just talk about their depression, then yes, I suppose that would bring on more sadness in a person. But if it is a Depressed Anonymous meeting where they speak about the spiritual nature of the program and begin to live out the solution. namely, all that is contained in the suggested principles in the 12 Steps then they will definitely get the help they need. We live in the solution, not the problem. If you go to one of our meetings and hear nothing but talk of depression and nothing about the spirituality of our program of recovery that you might be in the wrong meeting. The good thing about the Depressed Anonymous meeting is that many of those attending are in that stage of their recovery, have a sponsor, have been applying the tools of the program, and have gained a positive view of themselves, their world, and their future.
Those of us who have lived with depression on a daily basis know the despair that dogs us day after day. For those who have been dependent principally on drugs and therapy and found no relief -this program is a good place to land. For those who have the courage to stay, and that need help, then this personal faith and effort will begin to pay off in time.
RESOURCE
Copyright(c) Hugh Smith. Depressed Once – Not Twice. (2000) Depressed Anonymous Publications. Louisville, Ky. Pages 1-2.