Defined as "feelings of severe despondency and dejection," depression affects millions every year and has become America's most common mental illness.
Nearly 7% of American adults are diagnosed with depression and learning to live with it in their day-to-day lives.
But for some reason, we don't talk about depression. Many people struggling with depression never mention it due to a fear of looking weak and being judged by others. The truth is that depression IS seen as a weakness in society's eyes. People are unable to comprehend a feeling of worthlessness and numbness in life, unless they have experienced it.
So let's talk about depression. Let's not sweep it under the rug and pretend nobody struggles. Let's place ourselves in someone else's shoes and imagine for a second.
You're alone. Everything feels clouded. Looking in the mirror has become exhausting because you no longer recognize the reflection. Your empty room whispers reminders of long-gone emotions. Friends no longer listen. Family no longer care. You no longer feel.
Who are you?
Why are you even here?
Are you valuable to anyone?
Simple things are impossible. Whether you wake up or not makes no difference. Whether you eat today or not doesn't affect your energy. Whether you breathe or not doesn't affect anyone. Right?
Wrong. Too many people tell themselves these lies every day.
The problem starts when nobody can talk about it.
Depression is not something where a person can choose to say "I'm tired of feeling sad, today I am going to enjoy life." It doesn't work like that. Depression clouds a person's mind and deceives a person into thinking that they are stuck, that there is no way out.
Also, because of today's society, people suffering with depression view it as their issue and they have to overcome it themselves. It is something that should be kept a secret and fought through personally.
But this is false. People suffering with depression need the support of their family, friends, and community. It is not something that can be beat alone. The best way to overcome depression is to talk to people about it.
I think for a society, it's as simple as not being judgmental about depression. One comment about depression can effect someone. Because depression is not spoken of, many people in everyone's day-to-day interactions have been effected by this common illness. Try to understand depression before you speak about it.
Society needs to realize that depression is not a choice. It is an illness. And we can't stay quiet about it forever.
