When We Are Forced to Stop Yolin Macko Polo

When We Are Forced to Stop

Depression. What is it? How does one define what depression is? We can always google the definition and be fed a meaning according to a reliable dictionary to get a legitimate grasp on what it means. Putting such an abstract concept, as the feeling of depression, into words seems futile. How can one simply describe such an infinitely individual experience which affects people in a multitude of different ways? Some may say they feel depressed simply because their life lacks excitement at the moment. Others may have a darker sense of the word and use it more sparingly. Whatever your personal relationship with the word is, the one thing we have in common is the ability to say we have experienced it. Mental health issues do not need assistance in being prevalent, yet the onset of 2020 and the consequences of COVID-19 catapulted depression into an even more relevant position. People being forced to stay at home for months without an end in sight; being told that they can’t meet their friends or family and must stay confined indoors. This virus forced the world into social seclusion. This obviously exacerbated the psychological ailments we already suffer in our modern society. Feelings of uncertainty about the future have grown exponentially this year. Life as we knew it may not return and this is a sentiment we are constantly being fed to by the media. Jobs become obsolete, establishments are forced to close down, and all of a sudden, future prospects seem a lot murkier. Anxiety and worry about the state of our futures have always been real but after the impact of 2020, they seem to have become real for a reason. In the search for a light at the end of the proverbial tunnel, one may be forced to attempt positive thinking. Perhaps this year was a blessing in disguise? People were forced to slow down and re-evaluate the important little things that were taken for granted. This virus helped us open our eyes to the potential frailty of society and how quickly things can change. Although depression and feelings of isolation went up, stress levels diminished as people were forced to stop. The notion of sacrificing oneself for a workplace that may very well find its employees expendable is slowly becoming obsolete. This virus helped remind us that we are not simply machines made to work, but that we are humans entitled to physical and mental well-being.

Text and illustration by Yolin Macko Polo Instagram: yolinnn