While scrolling I came across an article (you can read it here in its entirety). It kind of stuck with me, maybe because of the terrifying memory of falling off (read being pushed out) of a boat when I was six years old and watching the water close over me, maybe because it resembled something else far deeper that I have seen around me a lot lately. Yes, the drowning description in the excerpt from the article, posted below for your convenience has a striking resemblance to depression.
“Except in rare circumstances, drowning people are physiologically unable to call out for help. The respiratory system was designed for breathing. Speech is the secondary or overlaid function. Breathing must be fulfilled before speech occurs." Most of the time, people who are depressed, can barely breathe and keeping their head above the murky darkness they're steeped in takes all the energy they've got. Calling for help is not something they are capable of doing.
"Drowning people’s mouths alternately sink below and reappear above the surface of the water. The mouths of drowning people are not above the surface of the water long enough for them to exhale, inhale, and call out for help. When the drowning people’s mouths are above the surface, they exhale and inhale quickly as their mouths start to sink below the surface of the water." It is almost as if opening their mouth to cry out for help the darkness would engulf them for good.
"Drowning people cannot wave for help. Nature instinctively forces them to extend their arms laterally and press down on the water’s surface. Pressing down on the surface of the water permits drowning people to leverage their bodies so they can lift their mouths out of the water to breathe." Depression can be a very physical feeling. Getting out of bed to manage the minimal survival requires all the energy possessed by a depressed person. Seeking help is beyond the scope of possibility.
"Throughout the Instinctive Drowning Response, drowning people cannot voluntarily control their arm movements. Physiologically, drowning people who are struggling on the surface of the water cannot stop drowning and perform voluntary movements such as waving for help, moving toward a rescuer, or reaching out for a piece of rescue equipment." This is equal to telling a depressed person, "I'm here if you need me." "Help is just a phone call away." and expect him or her to reach out to take your offer.
"From beginning to end of the Instinctive Drowning Response people’s bodies remain upright in the water, with no evidence of a supporting kick. Unless rescued by a trained lifeguard, these drowning people can only struggle on the surface of the water from 20 to 60 seconds before submersion occurs.” Often a depressed person looks fine on the outside, as if he or she were just floating through life.
I pray that we all become more perceptive in this area. Last year four young lives were tragically lost in our school district to this specter. I see many more young and old who are keeping upright, but are slowly sinking. I pray that I can do more than just stick my hand out; I pray I can grab someone before the darkness snatches his or her last breath, even if I have to jump into the blackness with them and with the help of God yank both of us out of it.
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