Late night, Friday 3 August 2012.

Thanks to my employer observing August Bank Holiday (because our clients include major Australian banks), a long weekend lay ahead.

Speaking of work, I was only hours away from finally completing a major and difficult project (and I would).

And that afternoon, to my unexpected delight, a major purchase from China via eBay had arrived – seven Enlighten LEGO-style building-block sets.

So the next three days were looking better and better.

And there were absolutely no clouds on my horizon…

…yet as Friday was drawing to a close, a strange and troubling feeling was building.

It wasn’t overpowering, just nagging.

Also, it wasn’t like the black dog as I’d previously experienced it.

It felt more like…ennui.

And that troubled me.

I had nothing to feel ennui about, especially during the next three days.

So why was I feeling this way?

Fortunately, as I had learned to do since mid-2007, I told myself not to dwell on it, and just focus on what was good.

And I did.

*

The long weekend passed.

Nothing bad happened…

…but every now and then, that nagging feeling returned.

Again, it wasn’t like depression as I’d previously experienced it. I was fully conscious, I never felt lethargic and my sleep was fine. In fact, it felt like I was standing apart from whatever this crappiness was, and observing it while experiencing at the same time.

Nonetheless, it was still annoying, and disconcerting, and troubling.

Why was I feeling like this?

Again and again, though, whenever this crappiness reappeared I told myself to never dwell upon it, keep it at arm’s length and enjoy what was good in my life.

As well, I decided that perhaps it was just a random and isolated chemical imbalance in my brain that was making me feel this way. That’s all.

And that helped to calm myself down whenever I needed to.

*

Late night, Tuesday 7 August 2012.

The first day back at work after the long weekend, and it had been very productive (and in two days’ time, I would receive very good feedback for the work I had done).

There was still nothing wrong in my life.

And yet several times throughout the day, that fucking crappiness had returned.

And here it was again!

What the fuck was wrong with me?!?

And that’s when I briefly hit rock bottom.

I cursed myself for the fact that despite everything going well, something about me was still bringing me down?!?

An uncomfortable self-hating moment passed.

Fortunately, yet again I told myself not to dwell on it, put it behind me and keep moving on.

So I did.

*

Wednesday, 8 August 2012.

For the first time in months, I hadn’t slept well the night before.

Throughout the day, I often felt physically tired.

But that crappiness? It didn’t reappear at all.

*

Thursday, 9 August 2012.

The crappiness stayed gone.

That afternoon at my weekly appointment with my psychiatrist, I told him all about it.

It was good to speak with him and talk it out of my system.

In the end, though, I still had no idea why that crappiness had happened.

Again, all that I could conclude to myself and my psychiatrist was that it perhaps it had been a random and isolated chemical imbalance in my brain.

Again, that’s all.

*

Depression sucks.

Fortunately, though – and despite whatever form it may take – I’ve learnt how to blunt the suck.

*

Until next time, stay well and take care 🙂