Depression isn’t something we as a culture talk about much, or even understand well. Naturally, we don’t know what to expect from something so seemingly silent and serious, especially if depression is not something you’ve experienced before.
Unfortunately, depression is common in different age groups and in times of life that bring great changes. Even more unfortunate is society’s way of handling it, much like with other mental illnesses. There's such a stigma associated with depression and mental illnesses in general, no matter what they are, and we as the next generation have a responsibility to change that stigma. This starts with understanding.
Here’s some things that you should know about depression:
1. Depression looks different in everyone.
Just like no two people have the same personality and no two people handle things exactly the same way, no two people who are dealing with depression experience it in the same way. Some people may find it impossible to leave their bed on their worst days, while others might sit calmly in the back of the room appearing as if nothing is wrong.
2. Just because you're sad, doesn’t mean you are depressed.
Sadness in life is completely normal. Dealing with negative emotions is normal. Depression does not mean you feel sad all of the time, or that you want to die, although those are common symptoms. Depression is a problem in the brain - there is a chemical imbalance that changes the way a person’s brain is processing emotions. This can make someone feel sad, but there is so much more to it. Please think about that the next time you say you are “feeling depressed.”
3. Someone with depression may not feel like that they should get help.
When someone with depression is in an emotional low, they won’t necessarily seek help because they might not feel like they need it, or they might not feel like they are worth helping. This is a serious problem for people who are fighting depression, because everything in their mind might be telling them that there is no hope for their situation. If you know someone who is dealing with this, it is imperative to be patient with them and try to help them see that there IS hope, and that things CAN change for them.
4. It can feel hard to care for someone with depression.
People with this battle don’t see themselves in a rational way, and they don’t always handle things in a rational way. This makes it hard sometimes to be present in conversations or in classes. It makes it difficult to go out with friends and to make it to appointments sometimes. It can make it seem impossible to celebrate with people, or to even leave the house. They may not want to accept help from you. The most important thing to do for someone who is dealing with depression in this way is to have patience with them, and try and realize that this doesn’t mean that they don’t care about things happening around them, or that they don’t care about you. They DO care. Their mind is just not allowing them to express that at the moment.
5.It’s easy for someone struggling with depression to feel overwhelmed with little things.
When feeling like getting out of bed is the hardest thing you could do at the moment, it’s easy for the thought of making dinner, doing laundry, or getting a little homework out of the way to feel like too much to handle. It’s even worse if things have started to pile up. If you know that someone is struggling, try and help them take things one at a time, and be encouraging with them. They will appreciate it and thank you for it later.
6. Sometimes it’s okay for someone with depression to want to take a “day off.”
School and business can seem completely overwhelming at times for someone who is dealing with depression. Sometimes rather than forcing themselves through a day that will just end up making them feel worse at the end of it, it’s necessary just to have a day to sleep or to cuddle up in bed with a good book or a movie. While it’s not healthy or beneficial to do this often, every once in a while it can help someone with depression move past a rough slump and get a little more energy to do the things that they know they need to do. If someone needs a day off, let them have a day off. Just make sure to check in on them, and see if they will be prepared for the next day.
While there’s so much to learn about depression and what it does in the brain, it’s also important to realize that depression is something very prevalent in society and in certain age groups. As we live life and interact with people, arming ourselves with information and applying it is the only way that we can begin to change the stigma associated with depression and mental illness in general.
