It's 2019, and it's sad that we still have to educate people about the stigmas of mental illness.
Let's talk about our good old "friend" depression. What exactly does depression even mean? Well, think of it as a giant black dog who just ruins your day for a long period of time.
Depression isn't just a "bad mood." And it definitely isn't something that makes you sad for 5 minutes.
According to the DSM-5, which is a manual of all of the updated mental disorders that include signs, symptoms, and possible treatment, depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act. It causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can also lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person's ability to function at work and at home.
And trust me, depression isn't fun.
The problem is that many do not acknowledge depression as a mental illness because "everyone gets sad and then gets over it." WRONG. With depression, you are sad for a long period of time and start to lose hope. You feel as if everything is crashing down and there is nothing else to hope for.
And no, just because your boyfriend took to long to text back, doesn't mean you had depression for those 5 minutes. That's what I hate about the stigmas that come with it. People just don't understand the difference between temporary sadness and actual depression.
To make things worse, a lot of parents consider depression as "just a sad phase" and it's something you can get over. Some assume that mental illness means that you have to act like a person who is considered to be "crazy," which isn't the word to use either.
Yes, everyone can have a sad moment, but that doesn't mean that we have to call it depression and only considered as a phase. Depression isn't easy to get over, you know. Depression can take over someone so easily and they don't have the strength to fight it. They would rather end it because it is so much to deal with.
So please educate yourself before you start to label depression as a phase, and remember to not use that word so lightly just because one thing doesn't go right. Oh, and not everyone who has depression "shows it," and not everyone has to harm themselves just to be considered depressed.
But for those who do, just know that people do care about you and please do something that you love, even if it is the littlest thing. And for those who have suicidal thoughts and feel as if harming yourself is the way out, PLEASE call the hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
Just check up on a friend. You never know what they're going through, seriously. It doesn't hurt to show some compassion to people. Even if they are in a good mood, just ask them how their mental health is off if they are in the right head space to talk. It really makes a difference.
If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — 1-800-273-8255
