how do you know a friend is depressed

Reach Out To Your Friends, You Never Know If They're Going Through A Dark Time

A simple hello can do a lot of good.

Ilana Mekler
Ilana Mekler Jun 20, 2018
33
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With the passing of so many celebrities like Kate Spade, due to mental illness, I think it's really important that we don't stop having that discussion on the importance of mental health. It seems like every time someone dies of suicide, every is sad for a couple of days, the media talks about mental health, and then it's swept under the rug until it happens again.

Mental illness isn't something that can just go away and can be cured with a "Stop thinking about it" or "Get over it" pep talk. It's because of phrases like these that people who do have a mental illness or are just going through a difficult time are too scared to reach out for help. Don't be hesitant to reach out to your friends who are showing signs that they are going through something.

Social media platforms seem to be where people like to vent. I've seen people tweet very vague but concerning things and I immediately reach out to them. Sometimes it's about nothing and sometimes it's the person trying to ask for help but not directly. If you're someone who is going through something, remember this:

You're not weak if you ask for help.

Even if the person you're reaching out to doesn't want to talk, just knowing that you reached out to them is a step. Maybe they'll come talk to you, but don't give up on them. Keep checking in.

If you're reading this and saying to yourself that you don't want to talk to someone you know, you have options. There's the Crisis Text Line, where you can talk to a trained crisis counselor anonymously through text message and they are available 24/7.

Recently, I had reached out to a good friend of mine who I hadn't talked to in a while. All I had said was "Hey! How's it going?" and it was a really brief conversation. A few weeks later when my friend and I had actually talked on the phone, she confided in me that she was going through a rough time and was in a bad space and that me texting her that simple question brought some positivity to her day. If she didn't tell me this, I would've never known that this was happening.

So, reach out to your friends. Reach out to strangers that you follow on social media. A simple comment, compliment, a hello, can turn around someone's day. This isn't going to solve all the problems in the world, but by doing this, it's a start in the right direction to have a discussion about mental health. It's a start in the right direction to make mental illnesses less of a taboo subject.

Cover Image Credit:

Pixabay

Ilana Mekler
Ilana Mekler Jun 20, 2018
At Florida Gulf Coast University

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Everything You Will Miss If You Commit Suicide

The world needs you.
Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman Apr 5, 2016
988718
views

You won't see the sunrise or have your favorite breakfast in the morning.

Instead, your family will mourn the sunrise because it means another day without you.

You will never stay up late talking to your friends or have a bonfire on a summer night.

You won't laugh until you cry again, or dance around and be silly.

You won't go on another adventure. You won't drive around under the moonlight and stars.

They'll miss you. They'll cry.

You won't fight with your siblings only to make up minutes later and laugh about it.

You won't get to interrogate your sister's fiancé when the time comes.

You won't be there to wipe away your mother's tears when she finds out that you're gone.

You won't be able to hug the ones that love you while they're waiting to wake up from the nightmare that had become their reality.

You won't be at your grandparents funeral, speaking about the good things they did in their life.

Instead, they will be at yours.

You won't find your purpose in life, the love of your life, get married or raise a family.

You won't celebrate another Christmas, Easter or birthday.

You won't turn another year older.

You will never see the places you've always dreamed of seeing.

You will not allow yourself the opportunity to get help.

This will be the last sunset you see.

You'll never see the sky change from a bright blue to purples, pinks, oranges, and yellows meshing together over the landscape again.

If the light has left your eyes and all you see is the darkness, know that it can get better. Let yourself get better.

This is what you will miss if you leave the world today.

This is who will care about you when you are gone.

You can change lives. But I hope it's not at the expense of yours.

We care. People care.

Don't let today be the end.

You don't have to live forever sad. You can be happy. It's not wrong to ask for help.

Thank you for staying. Thank you for fighting.

Suicide is a real problem that no one wants to talk about. I'm sure you're no different. But we need to talk about it. There is no difference between being suicidal and committing suicide. If someone tells you they want to kill themselves, do not think they won't do it. Do not just tell them, “Oh you'll be fine." Because when they aren't, you will wonder what you could have done to help. Sit with them however long you need to and tell them it will get better. Talk to them about their problems and tell them there is help. Be the help. Get them assistance. Remind them of all the things they will miss in life.

If you or someone you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline — 1-800-273-8255

Cover Image Credit: Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman
Brittani Norman Apr 5, 2016
At Influencers of Montana

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Anxiety Medications Aren't As Scary As You Might Think

It took me about 2 months to even find the right medication and dosage. It's truly a process.

Emma Stinnette
Emma Stinnette Apr 18, 2019
87
views

Before my journey with anxiety, I was very anti-medication. I truly didn't understand the purpose or need for it. Boy, have I learned a lot since then. Upon visiting the doctor, I learned that there are two types of medication that do two different things to the neurotransmitters in your brain. These are categorized as SSRI or SNRI. According to anxiety.org, "SSRIs increase serotonin in the brain. Neural systems affected by increased serotonin regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and digestion."

The medication that I am currently taking falls under the category of SSRI. As a result of taking this medication, "your brain is more capable of making changes that will lead to a decrease in anxiety" (anxiety.org). I don't know if that sounds nice to you, but I loved the sound of it.

On the other hand, per mayoclinic.org, SNRIs "ease depression by impacting chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) used to communicate between brain cells. Like most antidepressants, SNRIs work by ultimately effecting changes in brain chemistry and communication in brain nerve cell circuitry known to regulate mood, to help relieve depression."

From my understanding, the different types of medication focus on different neurotransmitters in your brain. I don't think that one of these is "bad" and one of these is "good." This is simply because anxiety and depression are very personal and impact people differently. My anxiety is not the same as my friend's anxiety. I think it's more of a spectrum.

There are a lot of misconceptions upon starting medication. I think the first is that it works instantly. I have some bad news and it's that some medications take up to a month to get into your system. I mean, you're chemically altering your brain, so it makes sense. It took me about 2 months to even find the right medication and dosage. It's truly a process.

Another misconception is that the pills are addicting- making them completely unnecessary or dangerous. That wasn't true for me. One of my dear friends told me that if you don't feel guilty for taking cold medicine when you have a cold, then you shouldn't feel guilty for taking medication that helps your anxiety. I think this really does boil down to knowing yourself and if there's a history of addiction in your family. However, as someone who's taken the heavy pain killers (via surgery) and now takes anxiety medication, I can testify to say that there's a difference.

The pain killers made me a zombie. The anxiety medication allows me to be the best version of myself. I like who I am when I'm not constantly worried about EVERYTHING. I used to not leave the house without makeup on because I constantly worried what people thought of me. I used to be terrified that my friends didn't want me around. I used to overthink every single decision that I made. Now, none of that is happening. I enjoy my friends and their company, I hardly wear makeup, and I'm getting better at making decisions.

Do I want to be able to thrive without having to correct my neurotransmitters? Sure. However, this is the way that I am, and I wouldn't have gotten better without both therapy and medication. I'm forever grateful for both.

Editor's note: The views expressed in this article are not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Emma Stinnette
Emma Stinnette Apr 18, 2019
At Texas A&M University

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