"1 in every 4 students suffer from some sort of mental
illness, including depression."
–Healthline.com
This statistic is present no matter where you go to school. It could be affecting your friend, boyfriend, girlfriend, family member, etc. and you probably don’t even know it. That’s because many people are so use to hiding or covering up how they feel just so that they won’t bother anyone with their problems… but the thing is, on the inside those people that are struggling with depression are slowly breaking or falling apart, and it becomes harder and harder to hide it. The hardest thing to do is ask for help. 75 percent of college students do not seek help for their depression. Many people are afraid of asking for help because of the stigma behind a mental illness. There are also phrases that are commonly said that feed into these stigmas because depression isn’t always something that cannot be controlled, and can be caused by chemical imbalances. Phrases that commonly said to people with depression include:
“Stop feeling sorry for yourself”
“You have so many things to be thankful for, why are you depressed”
“Why can’t you just be normal”
“Get a grip”
“you need to get out more”
“Buck up buttercup/suck it up buttercup”
“Why should I care”
These are only a few examples I have not only heard, but experienced for myself. That last one sticks out to me because that is why people wouldn’t want to seek help, for fear of that response. I know how it feels to struggle silently, to hide how I really feel, to be known as the person who is always happy (when deep down I was struggling). I kept it hidden so I didn’t feel like I was dragging people down with my problems. It wasn’t until someone asked me what was wrong, and really meant it was I able to talk about and tell someone what was going on. Trust me when I say, it definitely wasn’t easy, but talking about it seemed like something that needed to happen.
I still struggle with depression, and a little bit of anxiety, but I am slowly finding ways to feel better. It may take some time, but it is easier now than it was.
