Depression is a mental illness that effects so many people throughout the population. In fact, it effects about 14.8 million Americans 18 or older and one in eight adolescents. Think about that, if you’re sitting in a room with eight adolescents, at least one of them has been diagnosed (or will be diagnosed) as clinically depressed. Here are 5 things those with depression want people to understand about them.
1. We aren’t crazy.
This is the first word that always pops up as correlated with depression. “Oh you have depression, you must just be psycho”. False. People with depression ARE NOT crazy, nor even close to crazy. If anything, most people with depression are the good kind of crazy that everyone needs in their life.
2. We aren’t always sad.
Yes, depression can be feelings of sadness or hopelessness. It doesn’t mean we always feel upset. We don’t always want to break down and cry or be alone, though it can happen often. Sometimes, all we need is someone who will let us vent and let the emotion out and we’re all set.
3. Most times, we can’t control it.
This one is huge. Yes there’s medicine, yes there’s therapy. But medicine and therapy aren’t always the instant cure to let out the emotions, and sometimes we don’t know when a bout of depression is going to hit us. One moment we could be fine but once we’re sitting somewhere letting our thoughts take over, that’s when the depression kicks in.
4. We hate when people tell us to get help.
As much as we know you’re trying to help us by suggesting help, that’s probably one of the last things you should suggest to someone with depression. We don’t want to feel the way we do, so if we could find something to help us I guarantee about 95% of us would take that help in an instance.
5. Let it happen.
Whatever it is that allows us to forget the way we’re feeling, even if it’s for a couple minutes, allow us to do so (as long as it’s safe). In my case, I like to sleep when I’m depressed. Many of the people around me don’t understand why I sleep so often. I mean, yes I love to sleep because who doesn’t? But other times, I could have just woken up from a great night’s sleep and two hours later I would have to take a nap not because I’m tired but because my body is tired from fighting the thoughts. Everyone has different ways of dealing with their thoughts and as long as their method isn’t dangerous, let them do it. It’s just their mind shutting off the depressing thoughts.
To be blunt, depression absolutely sucks. But before you try to help someone who has depression, it’s best to know the ways that you can help them. To those of you who continue struggling, know that the storm doesn't last forever. I know right now things may not be going your way, and you may feel like you want to give up but know that you cannot give up. What you're feeling right is only temporary, remember "it's a bad day, not a bad life".
