As I sit here writing this, overwhelmed with stress and consumed by a list of things to do, chugging a coffee so I can stay up and get work done. As hectic as this time in the semester is, I am grateful for it. My crammed schedule keeps my mind busy and focused on other things. But in the back of my mind, I know bad days are inevitable. Try as I might to carry on, I know that there is a shadow walking 10 paces behind me at all times.
There are some misconceptions that come with depression. The word itself has a negative connotation. Here are some things that people with depression want you to know:
1. We have good days and bad days.
We can laugh. We can make jokes. We can have fun. Having depression doesn’t mean that we are in a constant state of misery. And because of this, we’re probably really good at hiding it.
2. It’s not just that we’re “feeling sad.”
Everyone has days when they feel down or upset, which is completely normal. That’s not what depression is. It’s exhaustion. It’s lack of interest. It’s forgetfulness. It’s crying for no reason. It’s complete apathy. It’s not being able to get out of bed to accomplish the simplest tasks.
3. Just because we might sleep a lot doesn’t mean we are lazy.
One of the wonderful symptoms that come with depression is sleep issues. Either we wake up too early or we deal with insomnia, we have restless sleep or we’re just constantly exhausted. A peaceful night of sleep is a rarity among people with depression.
4. Medication isn’t a big deal.
Some choose to use it and some don’t. It’s a personal choice that most with depression have to make at one point or another, and it’s our business. And no, medication does not cure depression. It may help, but it’s not a cure-all. So on our bad days, don’t say, “Did you take your medication? That’s probably why you’re depressed!” Believe us, it’s not.
5. It’s not “all in our head.”
You tell us to think positive thoughts and to stop thinking about it and not to worry and to just forget about everything that’s bothering us. Anyone with depression knows it’s not that simple. If we could just change our thinking and our attitude, don’t you think we would?
6. We are not our depression.
Having depression does not define us. Although some days it may seem like it, depression is not a part of our personality.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month! Millions of people are affected by a mental illness and it’s an important thing to talk about so that we can erase the stigma.
