I recently became aware that my lack of energy, negative attitudes, & strings of greyish-blah days were a result of a mild form of depression: dysthymia and post-traumatic stress. Rooted in several physical issues that require attention, I am now on a painful journey to revisit past events.
Often, I struggle with the "diagnosis" of depression; the resultant fears of "What will people think of me if they know?" "Will people think me less intelligent? Less creative?" "Will people respect me less? Value my ideas & opinions less?" Inside, I know these fears are ungrounded; they are lies. That doesn't make them less powerful. It certainly doesn't make the depression any easier to cope with!
In the medical field, I would draw a parallel with physical pain. Pain is a powerful communicator. When something in the body hurts - it is sending a message. It is reminding you to slow down, stop, and take care of yourself before further damage is done.
Jung saw depression very much the same way. Depression can be a time of great healing, growth - even prompting great spurts creativity on the upswing. Although the depression itself is painful, much can be learned in the process, making way for an individual that emerges refreshed, renewed, and richer for having paused to experience it fully.
That is my prayer. I pray that I might see this time of depression as a gift and view it through God's perspective. My hope is to arrive on the other side having learned something enriching in the process and emerge renewed, invigorated, & somehow changed (for the better). I pray I find joy in the journey - one day at a time.
-Carl Jung, C.W. v.8. The Structure and Dynamics of the Psyche