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Two Thousand some years ago, back when China was in the Warring States Period, there was a patriotic poet. His name was Qu Yuan. Since he was a well-read scholar, and could tell the signs of time at his fingertips, he became a well-known statesman respected by the people of his time. However, once the king that greatly trusted his advice passed away, his son inherited the kingship. This new king had his own followers that were jealous of the admiration Qu Yuan had won among the people. One of such main subordinate of the new king slandered him as being arrogant and boasted that the country could not survive without him. The new king became so infuriated he decided to put Qu Yuan into exile. In great distress, Qu Yuan wondered along the river, sighing as he watched the flowing river. A fisherman spotted him and asked him, “Aren’t you the famous poet Qu Yuan? Why are you in this Timbaktu?”The anecdote recorded in this ‘Fisherman’s Tale’ documented the despondent plight of the once favored statesman. Qu Yuan replied to the fisherman. “ The whole world is in corruption. Only I am innocent. All of them are drunk, but I am sober. That is why I had to be ostracized.”This sad comment disclosed of his mixed emotion of disillusion, loneliness, desertedness, and helplessness…to such a degree that he jumped to the river with his body fastened to a rock to end his life. In the Dragon Boat Festival of 2004, clinical psychologist Jie Long Lin asserted that Qu Yuan must have been a patient with deep depression according to the symptoms described in the story. How do we know if our loved ones have contracted depression? There are nine warning signs: 1. Constantly in depressive mood ( Has feeling of emptiness, sadness, feel like crying, or easily agitated) 2. Shows no interest in activities; desires to do nothing, apparently less happy than before. 3. Experiences drastic weight / appetite loss or gain. (usually weight loss). 4. Suffers insomnia daily (and feels drowsy most of the time). 5. Constantly feels anxious ( or slow in motion). 6. Feels fatigue or lethargic ( does not want to get out of bed). 7. Overly self-condemning or lacks self-worth. 8. Decreases in the ability to think or focus. Big mood swing, often hesitates in decision-makings. 9. Has suicidal wishes, attempting suicide sometimes. If a patient has more than five of the above symptoms (must include the first two symptoms) and persist for longer than two weeks, then the patient can be diagnosed as having depression. The Bible says : “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22) Come to know the Lord Jesus Christ, a living God who is real. He will be the Lord of your life, and the fountain of your joy. (Published on 《EFC Journal》 EFCCC No.137 July, 2006 translated by: Violet Chen) Bible Verse： cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. (Proverbs 17:22)
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