Despair, holiness, emptiness, and sadness are all words that we use interchangeably when describing depression. Google defines depression as "A mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life." Sometimes depression doesn't always look like what you would think: a person struggling to get out of bed, someone who sleeps a lot, someone who never smiles, always cries, has no ambition or goals for the future and is helpless. While all these are some warning signs, there are people who suffer from depression, but their life doesn't reflect it. They get up, get dressed, put on a smile, and go about their day just praying for relief from their pain and suffering. They try to act normal and answer "I'm fine'' when asked how they are doing. Then when everyone goes to sleep, they cry their eyes out or sometimes they're so numb they just stare at the ceiling for hours on end. Trying to believe in this God that we're taught about. Hoping and praying that things will get better, pleading for a sign. There are many people who suffer in complete silence. They don't want to be a burden to others. They don't want to have to try to explain what's going on when they don't even know it themselves.
While depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. are mental illnesses, they are there. They aren't not there just because you can't physically see pain like the pain of a broken arm. It's not "all in our heads.'' We are not crazy or insane. Do you want to know what's crazy? You can be standing next to someone thinking they have a perfect life, and they could be totally broken inside. They could feel so helpless that putting on a disguise is easier than trying to fight this neverending battle.
Depression isn't cookie-cutter straight. It's deeply complicated, and the struggle goes far beyond than not being able to leave the house or find happiness in things that used to bring us so much joy.
Depression is often silent. Make sure to check on your loved ones.
