Wise men say…Only fools rush in…but I can’t help falling in love with you. Sung by the great Elvis Presley.

One of my favorite songs of all time is Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love With You.”  I love Elvis Presley and his music. I don’t know why this song strikes a chord with me (aside from being one of the fewest love songs to serenade me with). I’m not a fan of love songs in general. One love song that always makes me cry is Percy Sledge’s “When a Man Loves a Woman.” (NOT, the Michael Bolton version!) I’ve disliked that song ever since I heard on the radio when I was a youngster. I remember coming home after a nice visit with my mom’s relatives and remind you, there was a lot of abuse and alcohol involved. So, when one side of the family is a close (loving) tight knit family and the other is the virtual opposite; this song really depresses me. Granted, we all get hurt in relationships with our friends, our families, and with our significant others; it’s always this song that reduces me to tears. But if my depression were to write a song about me it would be this part one of the song. Depression, anxiety, and panic disorder have formed their own trio called The Triple Threat Disease and this is their debut single.

The beginning of the song would start the same way with the same melody and rhythm and then cue the lyrics:

Wise men say/Only fools rush in/But I can’t help falling in love with you

Shall I stay?/Would be a sin?/Darling so it goes, somethings are meant to be

Take my hand/Take my whole life, too/For I can’t help falling in love with you

Sung by Elvis Presley

This song is a love song by default and for me, the lyrics really do signify that. The first verses of this song does really ring true to my depression’s undying love and devotion for me such as “Shall I stay?” (No you may not!), “Would it be a sin?” (Yes, it will be a major sin for you to stay), and lastly, “Somethings are meant to be” (Unfortunately, true and it’s hard to accept living with depression!).

However, if depression were a song it would be very much a sad sob song. It’s one of those songs that you hate the most and every time it comes on the radio or playlist, you just want to turn it off and not hear it all.

The second verse of the song would sound a lot like The Rolling Stones song “Paint it Black.”

I see a red door and I want to paint it black
No colors in my life, you better turn them black
I see people walking by, dressed in their colorful clothes
I see them strolling by, my happiness just flows
No more will my grey sea turn a deeper blue
I cannot foresee this thing happening to you

Everything is black I know

Help me walk once more
And help me talk again, walk again
Stand up like a man baby
Since you been gone, gone
There is no color in my life baby
Its turning so very (very) bone-black (Sung by The Rolling Stones)

During bad bouts of depression, the colors in my life are simply black. Because depression is so debilitating and is a daily struggle to live with. Some days, I wish I could see all the different beautiful colors in this world but is overshadowed by intense pain and darkness. We can all relate to blue periods. For me, it helps to think positively and look on the brighter side of the spectrum.

The final verse or stanza aka the grand finale of the song would definitely be “Fighter” by Christina Aguilera or “We are the Champions” by Queen. Throughout the 25 years of suffering from the Triple Threat Disease (mentioned above!), I sometimes forget the kind of person that I am now because of it: A fighter and true champion! With everything that has happened already and will happen in the future, I always fight the good fight until the day I die.

‘Cause it makes me that much stronger
Makes me work a little bit harder
It makes me that much wiser
So thanks for making me a fighter
Made me learn a little bit faster
Made my skin a little bit thicker
Makes me that much smarter
So thanks for making me a fighter (Sung by Christina Aguilera)

Whatever life brings you both good and bad, take it. You can’t predict anything. Things happen in our lives that we just can’t stop or prevent; sometimes like depression. (Especially, if yours is hereditary.) But whatever happens, fight it in a healthy way. Get help when you need help and don’t let your demons overpower you. You can and you will survive if you stay positive and stay strong. Sometimes, I feel weak and I feel like I can’t take it anymore, but I remind myself of everything that I have. I have friends and family that love me beyond words, I have two dogs that I love so much, and I’m not rich (Oh well!). But I’m much more richer in my heart because of what I have and what’s inside of me. So depression can go ahead and play its daily broken record of a song, but I don’t let it get me nor should you!