No, managing depression as chronic pain prolongs depression. Depression is the emotional pain that is trying to bubble up to the surface, but out of our fear of experiencing it, we suppress it. We suppress it for as long as we can, trying to pretend that everything is alright, hoping to avoid it, hoping that it will go away. When we can no longer suppress our pain, we become dysfunctional, and blame ourselves for it, because we are all brainwashed to think there’s something wrong with depression. Depression is arguing with your pain, and the longer you argue, the longer it will persist.

The turning point of every depression is when you can no longer argue. When you admit to yourself that you are depressed, that you don’t want to do anything, that you need some rest and time alone. The society calls your rest “dysfunction” and your time alone “social isolation”. It is also scared like hell of your tears and your despair, so it keeps telling you there’s something wrong with your tears and your despair, adding up to your despair. No. Don’t listen to them. There’s nothing wrong with you. When you finally surrender and start to cry, shake, be desperate, hateful, weep from your loneliness - this is when things will start to slowly get better. This is the turning point of every depression.

It will pass. It never lasts forever. Allow yourself to experience your grieving, don’t try to numb yourself with drugs (psychedelics aren’t drugs, but alcohol is), and never under any circumstances hurt the body. You’ll be surprised how natural the healing process is, once you stop arguing with what’s there and accept it. Practice self-compassion and meditate.