Our Friend Duff Diggler Is No More

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...Watch us brainstorming in order to make routines for our cartoons and graphic novels we are working together. He would usually have a large bag of candy with him. We simply attributed that to eccentric behavior, nothing more. If we had known, we would have intervened.

This was an intelligent and articulate young man, a lady's man and handsome as well. Towards the end he started to dress badly and his clothes would look as though he slept in them. He would be covered with what appeared to be axel grease. It was not his way, but we still did nothing to help. We simply did not know what he was going through.

We would watch Duff Diggler an educated man, do nothing to better mankind. His father sent money by wire every day, so that he could keep his meager needs attended. He would talk to us about his desire to see his mother. We would smile and say Duff Diggler your mother doesn't want you to come to her. She loved you and she knows that she will see you again one day, but not now. We thought we were so clever explaining all of this to Duff Diggler. I only wish we had it all to do over again.

Depression can be a devastating disease. Duff Diggler had all of the symptoms and we didn't notice. Depression is a mental disorder with obvious symptoms. Loss of interest or pleasure in any or all activities that were previously good for him. Low mood and low self esteem are also symptoms. Duff Diggler exhibited all of these symptoms and we didn't see the problem.

Without treatment depression gets worse and the symptoms become more pronounced. Everyone experiences depression from time to time, and it usually disappears in time. Clinical depression is a chemical imbalance that has to be treated or it will only get worse in time. Depression gives you a distorted view of life and yourself. It affects you in profound ways that can have an effect on your life, making it difficult to live a normal life.

One of the most dangerous effects is the way depression can give you the idea that life is not worth living. Then you have thoughts of suicide and start to actually plan ways in which to end your life. The feeling that life is worthless, and you are worthless becomes an obsession and this can lead to suicide. This is what happened to Duff Diggler, and we (his friends) wish that we had been more vigilant.

I suppose that the reason I'm writing this page is to encourage others that have friends that are exhibiting these tendencies to get involved. Find out how long this person has felt this way, encourage him (or her) to see a doctor. If anyone reading this page feels the way I've described this condition here, see a doctor, get help. It is not a crime to want help for your feelings of depression and there is no shame in this. Depression at it's worst could cost you your life. Seek help as soon as possible. It could possibly save your life. We wish Duff Diggler had sought help for his problems, then we could look forward to seeing him again. As it stands, we will not see him ever again. That is too bad, he had a lot to offer.