How To Get Through It

Depression. Anxiety. The words almost instantly cause a stigma, an image of what a clinically depressed person looks like. How somebody with general anxiety disorder operates.
Even for me, someone who suffers and is coping with both depression and anxiety disorder, it is difficult to put into words how these afflictions impact the lives of those who have them.
But due to a surge of coverage about the topic, I will put it into words, in the form of a story.
In the Jewish religion, Chanukah is celebrated by lighting the eight candles of the Menorah.
The ninth candle used to light a Menorah is called the shamash. The servant. The shamash shines bright, using its flame to ignite the fires of the other candles.
Until the shamash is burnt out. Then it can’t light anyone’s fires, or serve its purpose.
I live as the shamash. And, sometimes, my flame is put out, as I’m sure many of us have experienced as well. Depression and anxiety rain down and the fire dwindles. Like the shamash, what good is a candle with no light.
The good news is, with the flick of a match the shamash can be reignited. The flame will burn on and it can continue to serve its purpose.
Your fire can be reignited, your flame will burn on, and you can continue to serve your purpose.