A Much Needed New Word

During my girls weekend, my dear friend, Lynn, on more than one occasion, told me to "Chillax". Apparently, I worry too much and ponder things too hard. I forget to remember what ever will be will be.
Guilty.
She, as well as Deb and Sheri, have always had a vast vocabulary that I have always been jealous of. Together they took Etymology while I took an Art class. They were Advance English, I went for the easy Basic English classes. They were pushed and relished learning. I was told take the easy so you will get the high grades. Hmm. Do you wonder why I pushed my girls? I made them take Etymology.
Today, I love learning new words! I love knowing them and using them. I keep my Handy Dictionary by my side and open in several times through the day. I couldn't get through a blog posting without it. I use my spell check, but trust my dictionary more. When I read something or hear something that I do not know the meaning I look it up. I think that I have trained the girls, and even Sergio, that the dictionary is your best friend in English.
As for the word "Chillax". It may not be found in my trusty dictionary, but I know what it means. It is okay to make up words in my world. When I start to stress out and freak out, I hear Lynn tell me,

Chillax Man, you need to just Chillax!

melancholy

I like this word. My dictionary gives it a rather long definition, or actually a list of words that describe it:
melancholy~ pensive sadness; depression; depressing; expressing sadness; sorrow; misery; gloom; unhappiness; the blues; moroseness; melancholia; dejection; dejectedness; despondence; despondency; morose; unhappy; gloomy; woeful; woebegone; lugubrious; disconsolate; downcast; downhearted & saddening.

Part of what I like about this word is the way it sounds, and the other part is that I get it. I understand exactly what this word is about.

Before I get a phone call from a certain friend, RELAX, I am fine. Talking to you today was just what I needed, however, I still felt the need to blog "carefully" about this.

I think that depression is very misunderstood. People assume that depression comes from situations or lack of control of feelings when things go wrong. They think that if you have a "good life" a loving family, home, financially alright, that there is no excuse for it. That it is somehow understandable for someone that is going through a crisis.

Depression is extreme melancholy, often with physical symptoms.

Depression is a hereditary disease. I have seen several grandparents, both my parents, and a cousin suffer from it as well. I think my whole life I was terrified that one day I would let my guard down and it would catch up to me. As a child growing up, it was difficult to understand. It seemed selfish. As an adult, I would be angered attending a funeral of someone I loved that had committed suicide. So many people fight daily to live and I know a coward that threw his life away.

I do not feel that way anymore.I understand it. The melancholy. The anxiousness.

I also am a huge supported of drugs to get that chemical imbalance proportioned back to normal. I agree that too often people lean on Xanax, Zolam, and other anxiety medications. But, when it comes to drugs like Lexpro and other antidepressants to control suicidal thoughts and attempts I know that it is important to be supportive to loved ones that are in need of these medications.

I don't have any answers why some of us get depressed or even anxious. I know that I have the opportunity to make the best of what I have been dealt and to live my life to it's fulliest. When I get too down, yes, I will see a Doctor, take a pill, or when I am lucky just get some puppy kisses and some friend and family magical hugs.