There's so many things that we as a society talk about all the time. I can't turn on the TV or radio without being inundated with information. Every day, I hear people talk about the latest scandal in the White House, missiles in North Korea, what celebrity's marriage is falling apart or even debating the season finale of a popular TV show..
I'm not going to say that we shouldn't be talking about some of those things because we should be able to talk about anything.
As a society, I'd like to think we've evolved enough, that there shouldn't be things we can't have serious conversations about, Depression being one of them.
We're at the tail end of 2017, and it's still taboo to talk about getting help for depression, mental health in general, or even getting help with your sexual health. Today we're going to focus on depression. I get that there are many people who simply don't understand what Depression is or how much of an impact it can have on one's life. What I don't get is why it's almost frowned upon for someone to talk about dealing with Depression, especially in a public forum.
Whether or not you realize it, there's a better than average chance that Depression is impacting someone in your life, and you just don't know about it.
That's sad for two reasons.
For starters, it's sad that society has stigmatized Depression so much that people feel weird talking about it. Secondly, because it's so stigmatized, people dealing with Depression feel things like *shame, embarrassment *or even *isolation.* This stigma makes it so that people warring with Depression are afraid to talk about it for fear of being ridiculed or judged.
Knowing anyone feels that way is heartbreaking.
Depression is something we should be talking about. We should be talking about it a whole lot more than we are.
I've made it no secret that I've been dealing with Depression for almost my whole life. I don't care what anyone thinks and as a result, I'm very open about my personal struggles, and there are many Depression related struggles I face on a daily basis.
Let me quickly share with you how the Mayo Clinic describes Depression:
Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life isn't worth living.
More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness and you can't simply "snap out" of it. Depression may require long-term treatment.
Depression is a very serious illness and part of makes it so hard for people to wrap their heads around, is that it's an *invisible condition*. This means that unless you know what you're looking for, people in your life could be dealing with Depression and you simply wouldn't know.
It's not always obvious that someone is struggling with Depression, because they may not seem depressed on the outside.
According to the Mayo Clinic, here are some of the signs that someone is depressed:
- *Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness*
- *Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters*
- *Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports*
- *Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much*
- *Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort*
- *Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain*
- *Anxiety, agitation or restlessness*
- *Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements*
- *Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame*
- *Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things*
- *Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide*
- *Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches*
I felt like the above information should be included in this post because it helps to provide a better understanding. To learn more, and there is much more to learn, visit the Mayo Clinic.
It's very important to understand that we can't address what we don't talk about. We can't help remove the stigma attached to things like Depression, until we become comfortable enough to have open, honest and compassionate dialog.
Speaking from experience, Depression can literally impact every aspect of one's life. There are times when Depression is in the driver's seat and I feel like a passage in my own life. There are other times when I know that I'm in control and my Depression is being managed.
There is no quick fix and this is way more than just feeling sad.
When I'm depressed, I can't think clearly. It's very easy for Depression to motivate or influence my decisions, and in the moment, I would necessarily be aware of it.
I've been in therapy for myself specifically, on and off for twenty years. I take medication every single day, in order to help me better manage my Depression. Even with both of those things in place, there are periods of time when Depression is kicking my ass up one side of the street and down the other.
It's a constant battle, and I'll most likely be fighting it for the rest of my life.
I hope that by sharing my experience with Depression in such a public way, others will feel safer or more comfortable doing the same.
Depression is nothing to be ashamed of and it isn't my fault. I'm doing everything I can to keep myself moving forward because that's all I can really do. I can *will *myself out of this and neither can anyone else.
We need to talk about Depression and make sure that we do so in a way that helps people feel more comfortable coming forward to seek help.
No matter how bad things might seem in the a very Depression influenced moment, things will get better. If you or someone you know is depressed, please get help. Ever feel too ashamed to reach out and seek the help you need to get your feet back underneath you.
Talking to family, friends and especially your Doctor, is a great place to start.
