Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in the column on this page are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Delta Collegiate.
By Gregory Horner, Staff Reporter.
Remember the last time you got sick? Scratchy throat, nausea, the works; when you looked as bad as you felt and every friend became an M.D. with a diagnosis and treatment. Whether it was a cold or the flu, the symptoms were easily identifiable, and quick recovery was guaranteed with or without medical treatment. As miserable as you felt there was control and comfort in liquid gels and nasal sprays. If only every illness was so simple.
In the wake of Robin Williams’ suicide, depression and mental illness has found renewed interest in our media. Politicians and pundits alike continue to misrepresent those affected, either with ignorant words or inactive legislation. For all the words, very little has been said about the topic.
Depression is complicated. According to estimates taken by the National Institute of Mental Health in 2012, 16 million Americans experienced a major depressive episode within a years’ time. A depressive episode, when a person suffers severe depression symptoms for longer than two weeks, is a severe indicator of Major Depressive Disorder.
Much is misunderstood, symptoms are difficult to spot and vary from person to person, thus It’s easy for close friends and family to miss or misidentify depression in loved ones.
There’s the stereotype of the black-clad crying depressive, when many don’t feel anything at all. It’s not just sadness 24/7; it’s just as often boredom. You might lose interest in everything, even eating and sleeping. You might have suicidal thoughts, sometimes so severe it impairs your ability to function.
You might display many symptoms, you might display only one. Communicating is usually the key factor in recovery, but it is often the most difficult step people encounter. Words are our great source of communication, and with them we can write great works of literature or classify and record foreign forms of life. But when depression affects your life and a discussion has to take place, words can fail.
It’s not easy telling a loved one that there’s something wrong, and its not easy hearing it either. Even for those who’ve suffered depression, trying to help can be supremely frustrating. Depression can be like living with blinders, anger turned inward, perspective is flawed and to the outsider it can seem as if you’re engaging in narcissistic self-loathing.
Self-obsessed with no self-confidence, the depressed will find their circle of help alienated and offended, contributing further to a self-destructive cycle. It’s why therapy has proven to be such an effective treatment, studies show that talking is the best cure for depression, but for some speaking to loved ones can do more harm than good. If you feel like you have to talk, but have no one to tell, counseling might be your best option to pursue.
Bridging the gap between an unhealthy and healthy mental state, however, takes more than just words. We are all individuals, and the non-verbal divide that separates all of us can’t be overcome with just words. It requires trust and patience. Recovery will not come instantly; there will be no epiphany.
You’ll be asked questions like, “How often do you feel sad?” or “Would you describe yourself as a happy person?” Vague questions with vague answers, and when your mood changes so too does your response, it can seem truly pointless. We don’t know much about the human brain, or why people suffer depression, and studies show that depression is often genetic. It can leave you feeling broken, fundamentally flawed, but that’s okay. Humans are broken and fundamentally flawed, and even perfect mental health is hardly anything to brag about.
The disconnect between how we see ourselves and who we are is not just a crisis faced by those suffering from major depressive disorder. It’s a crisis faced by everybody, and I can assure you that someone you know is feeling exactly as you are. You or a loved one could be showing the signs of depression, and allowing it to fester will only exacerbate. Be honest, be determined, be annoying. The difference between doing something and nothing, could be as big as a lifetime.
