Depression can feel like drowning--it can feel like you're hovering just above the water, but you have an anchor being tied around your ankle that keeps pulling you down. Depression makes things like writing this piece difficult, even though it is an opinion piece and mostly my own thoughts.
School work, basic self-care tasks, even getting up in the morning all become hard to impossible, no matter the scale of their actual difficulty. It makes every day much more difficult.
I’ve put off finishing this article for five days, just to give an idea of the difficulty that one faces. There are many different levels and kinds of depression, depending on the person and what other things are going on in their life. It’s hard to know exactly what kind of treatment one needs, as misdiagnoses are just a part of the process. Medication can be a good way to help treat one’s symptoms, but it’s not the end-all-be-all.
The first time I took Prozac was freshmen year of high school. For a month, I felt like I was on cloud nine. Everything and everyone just seemed perfect, and the world was full of sunshine and rainbows. Alright, I am exaggerating, but everything did seem better. That all came crashing down later on. Medication is a great first step, and it can really help you function and do those measly day to day tasks, but it isn’t the end all be all solution. There are other things that can help you out.
For starters, if you are thinking of taking medication, you have to routinely see a psychiatrist. This allows you to talk to someone, and work out your problems. This also helps you figure out what is working and what is not. A therapist on the other hand cannot prescribe medication, but they can be just as helpful when it comes to talking. Talking to friends is always helpful, but having a professional who can help you understand what you’re going through can make a huge difference
Unfortunately, there is a stigma about depression. Most think that it’s just “a phase” and that it can be gotten over with after time. While this might be true in the case of something like grief, depression is a very different topic. Depression actually makes your brain less active, as shown in the photo below with a brain that’s working at full capacity. It is a disease, just one that’s harder to diagnose and one that everyone experiences differently.
On top of that, there is a stigma about seeking professional help. Some feel they are weak if they try to get it, others would rather self-medicate themselves. Look, I understand. It’s a really hard thing to admit to yourself, less so to anyone else. I do not like talking to a professional for help. I wish I could be able to fight it on my own. In the end it’s all worth it.
So if you are feeling depressed text “GO” to 741-741.
If you are worried about your own life or safety, call 800-784-2433.
And lastly, if you want professional help here on campus, call (413) 545-2337.
Just remember, there’s always another day ahead, no matter how bad today has been.
