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That is a lot as how in my perspective that I see the "disconnection" and the 'void"
But to be reconnected, would one have to Overcome depression?

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Lou,

I don't want to pull this thread away from support for Greenleaves, but I also think my answer to you may be relevant to her and others...

I don't think it is a black-or-white thing, like "cure depression = reconnection". As you know we live with this illness all of our lives, hopefully keeping it largely under control.

The way I see it, "depression" and "disconnection" play off of each other and are intertwined. This includes disconnection to spirituality, friendships, family, things we used to enjoy, etc. A key part of this is the isolation that depression causes us to do. The isolation causes the disconnection, the depression makes us feel disconnected, the disconnection and isolation make us feel alone and depressed. It is a circle with many entry points.

So I don't see the solution of "reconnection" as being "overcome depression". I think it takes a lot of work in all areas. I think it helps if we can remember that our sense of disconnection is often an exaggerated one... partly a false one (due to the distortion of our world view by depression) and partly one that is real, but caused by our depression (by our isolation).

So I think the "solution" is to work on "reversing the cycle" in a sense. Overcoming depression will help lift the sense of isolation and help allow us to reestablish those connections. But working on reestablishing connections can also help relieve our depression. That is why I think it is so important to try to reach out to friends when we are depressed. Our depression makes us isolate ourselves from them, and then makes us think they don't like us (because we disconnected from them and then are mad that they are no longer connected to us). For myself I also find a lot of wanting them to "prove" their friendship by breaking through my isolation, which I think is an unreasonable and manipulative attitude, but it comes so easily with depression... then being mad when they don't do so.

So making an effort to reach out when it is hardest may be a good step in fighting depression. Go to church or temple when you don't want to. Talk to friends, call or email, when you don't want to. Find some friends who understand, or just reach out with some casual contact as a start.

At the very least, always remember that the pain of disconnection is caused by the depression, and does not reflect any deficiency on your part. I believe those connections are still there, we are just cut off from them. Some connections may be broken but there are always others waiting to be established when we are ready and able.