Depression and addiction. Or Lincoln and me.

Although drug ads would have one believe that depression can be cured, it's beyond the scope of medicine, encompassing the physical body and the mind, which makes it exactly like addiction. Both are chronic diseases that need to be managed daily. Both have, at some point, taken a person to her knees in defeat. Both require the sufferer to admit she is powerless and to turn the care of herself over to a higher power.

I recently read this article, which is a synopsis (although it's an Atlantic piece, so it's still long) of a book about Lincoln's depression. To compare my depressive/addictive nature to Lincoln's is like comparing a  mosquito bite to full-blown psoriasis, but I could relate to the guy.

Lincoln: "They meant to set up a standard maxim for free society," Lincoln said, "which should be familiar to all, and revered by all; constantly looked to, constantly labored for … even though never perfectly attained."
AA: Progress, not perfection.

Lincoln: "Let us have faith that right makes might, and in that faith, let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it."
AA: Do the next right thing.

I hear many drunks in meetings identify themselves as "grateful alcoholics." I used to think they were grateful to be sober, but now I see what they mean is that they are grateful for the gift of their disease. Lincoln, too, seemd to come to believe that his disease was not a curse, but a gift.

It's a pity that it would be an uphill battle for a great man like Lincoln to be elected today. Aside from the fact that the camera didn't love him, once People magazine ran a story about his black dog, the race would be over. The public views depression and alcoholism as character flaws and weaknesses, which is too bad because both diseases, when being treated, result in a person who is rich in humility, has examined her soul, and taken responsibility for her actions. I wouldn't mind seeing more of these traits in my elected officials.