Depression is a monster that generally enjoys feeding on its victims' joys and laughter. It can take some of the very best people and turned them into zombies, practically trapped in their own body. Depression is something that I am familiar with on a personal level; I've dealt with it off and on since I was 13. At this point, I know all the signs and what I need to do to counteract it. My family knows what to watch for, and I have figured out the best way for me to cope. Other people have not hit this point yet.
The strange part about depression is that I can sit here all day and tell you how it is for me, but at the end of the day, I have no idea how it is for someone else. I have no idea how to handle that pain someone has, even though I know exactly what it is like myself. I have always known what it is like to have depression, but having a friend with depression is a new form of pain.
Maybe one of the good things about being so in sync with depression is having an easier time spotting it in people I'm close to. I have a friend that is undergoing chronic depression. Honestly, it wasn't too difficult to spot. All of the typical symptoms were there: lack of sleep, drowsiness, irritability, disconnect. There would be times I would look at them, and it was like they weren't even really there. Because they weren't. I knew the feeling; I had been there.
I tried to help this friend in any way that I could. It was a feeling very different than any I had experienced before in my personal battle with depression. As I sat there and looked at them, I knew the pain that they were dealing with internally. I could see it in their eyes how little interest they had in life. Depression takes everything in your life and makes you feel completely helpless, but sitting there watching my friend go through that was a new form of helpless. All I wanted was to see them happy, to make things better. All I could do was to hold their hand and tell them I was there for them. Unfortunately I know how little even that does against the demons of depression.
People suffering from depression don't have to be your typical stereotype. They can be your prom queen, your class favorite, your A student. Depression takes a hold of your friend, your neighbor, your son. Sometimes depression even takes your self. I wish I could tell you exactly what to do if someone you know is battling with depression; I am trying to figure that out myself.
Depression is something that everyone should know the signs of. If someone that you know is showing signs of depression, acknowledge that. If someone you love tells you that they have been struggling with depression, accept that. Sometimes it is difficult to look at the people in your life and see them as anything but happy. It is tough to think that your parent or your child could go through something like that. Don't ignore them. Be there for them so that they can get help. It is easy to assume people are happy in their life, you never know when someone may be contemplating taking theirs. Depression is a serious thing; don't ignore it.
If you are someone that has gone through or is currently battling depression, I feel your pain. I have been there. I know how some days it can be so difficult to even get up. I know how it seems like life if zooming past while you are in slow motion. I know how it feels to be a stranger in your own body. But it does get better. There is nothing wrong with asking a doctor about depression. There is nothing wrong with admitting that you aren't OK. There is nothing wrong with having to be on medication. There is nothing wrong with asking for help. It does get better. Today may be so difficult to walk through, but one day, things will be easier. Depression is a monster that destroys victims lives until they are nothing. The good news is that with so many people battling depression, no one is alone. If you or someone you know is battling depression, don't give up. It isn't easy, but in the long run, it is worth it.
