A Somber Tone
Facing the big black dog
THE BIG BLACK DOG— many of us have faced it. That nasty feeling at the back of your mind; that weight on your shoulders, sucking the energy, charisma, and lifeblood from you. Everything that made you human feels like a distant memory, as you parade around your life, a shell of who you once were, pretending everything’s fine.
Depression is one of the toughest things most of us will ever battle. Yet it still faces stigma even today. It’s simply not spoken about, nor even acknowledged by many. The thing is, life and its experiences are subjective, different according to the individual going through them—pain, struggles, emotions, they’re all unique to you. Some people are mentally stronger than others, and can cope with stress; others are less able. Unfortunately, there is no easy solution, no simple cure-all. Each of us will have a different battle to face, and each has to find a different way to succeed.
For me—and this is going to sound insane, given what I do for a living—the best way to focus myself is to step away from the PC. There’s no doubt that gaming and tinkering do help alleviate some of the stresses I face each day, yet the more I sit glued to a screen, the bigger that black dog becomes. Getting outside, away from technology, noticing the world around me, and pushing myself physically is the key to my happiness.
Over the years, I’ve learnt that the dog isn’t my enemy, but a companion. It’s made me who I am, and is something I’ll likely live with for the rest of my life, so knowing how to keep it in check is paramount to my wellbeing. Sometimes, getting away from the rig is the best thing you can do, at least until your mind is back in check.