Are You Depressed? I know I Am

 

For the past 5 months I have avoided most online activities- social media, and any form of engagement as well as this blog. No I haven’t abandoned you my dear chikkies but have been struggling with something innate for awhile now.

I have debated with myself for months if I should go ahead and publish this type of content on a seemingly “perfectly happy” and perky platform. But alas, here I am pouring out a piece of my heart, openly letting the world know, that yes, I am depressed and struggling.

Now I feel like this has been a long time coming for me as I got older, I moved to a different country, lost friendships along the way (or at least by distance) and the overwhelming realms of adulthood can get pretty stressful. Sometimes I don’t realize that it is affecting me so much so that my defense mechanism isn’t to fight it, but to retreat and be in reclusion, thinking to myself that this is a phase and it will pass. Until hours become days, days become weeks and weeks become months. And I felt the same- not really crying myself out but mostly apathetic and nonchalant.

The things I used to enjoy become bland and uninteresting to me. I have shunned people who wanted to connect and have new experiences, I stayed in that dark world inside my head. All the while being on autopilot and doing the same day to activities to live- eat, sleep, work, smile to keep up appearances to other people but inside I felt like my soul is dead. I felt like it was a combination of fear, insecurities, some anxiety and some ridiculous expectation I had in myself that was unattainable and that was keeping me down. Myself.

 

 

That being said I feel like these issues are common in adulthood, to women in particular, we take care of so many people in our lives that we feel guilty to let ourselves feel at times. We feel like we always have to be perfect because of this bs double standard in society. As we get older, have jobs, kids, we lose important relationships, we get overwhelmed with life’s daily stresses until it becomes too much to bear. We plateau and think this is “normal” and how things should be.

I wanted to get deep and personal as I think for the most part being online seemingly looks good on the outside, but rotten on the inside. Content creation is not easy, though it can be fun, but when I look at my feed (or maybe yours looks the same too) it’s all about the outside. The gloss. Beautiful, pretty things. What about the inside? Looks and appearances can be deceiving as most online media is curated, crafted and made available for algorithms, consumption and moolah. The insanities and mental struggles of being online or having an online presence is real and should be acknowledged.

As for me I want to be able to be more personal, have different types of content, not just sales, clothes and makeup. Though I like those things, I know these are not the most important things in life. Health (including mental health) family, relationships are what matters most. If I leave this earth today, I couldn’t care less about a sale or what I was wearing or if my makeup was on point. Leaving a legacy and how I made others feel is what I want to know.

 

 

 

At this point, I wanted to address depression itself and how serious this condition is. I think that in this day and age, yes people are more open in talking about it but what about identifying the signs and symptoms of this condition? Do you know if you are depressed? What about treatment, can it be treated? I have rounded up some depression facts and statistics from NIMH (National Institute of Mental Health) and CDC (Center for Disease Control) for your information so you (or a loved one) can check yourself out if you have any of these symptoms.

 

Definition

 

Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Symptoms of depression include:

• Feeling sad or anxious often or all the time
• Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun
• Feeling irritable‚ easily frustrated‚ or restless
• Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Waking up too early or sleeping too much
• Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite
• Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment
• Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions
• Feeling tired‚ even after sleeping well
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself

The following information is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis of major depression and cannot take the place of seeing a mental health professional. If you think you are depressed‚ talk with your doctor or a mental health professional immediately. This is especially important if your symptoms are getting worse or affecting your daily activities.

 

Major Depression

 

Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. For some individuals, major depression can result in severe impairments that interfere with or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities.

The National Survey on Drug Use and Health(NSDUH) definition of major depressive episode is based mainly on the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5):

• A period of at least two weeks when a person experienced a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, and had a majority of specified symptoms, such as problems with sleep, eating, energy, concentration, or self-worth.
• No exclusions were made for a major depressive episode symptoms caused by medical illness, substance use disorders, or medication.

 

Statistics (2017)

 

• • An estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. This number represented 7.1% of all U.S. adults.
  • The prevalence of major depressive episode was higher among adult females (8.7%) compared to males (5.3%).
  • The prevalence of adults with a major depressive episode was highest among individuals aged 18-25 (13.1%).

 

 

Causes

 

The exact cause of depression is unknown. It may be caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. Everyone is different‚ but the following factors may increase a person’s chances of becoming depressed:

• Having blood relatives who have had depression
• Experiencing traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death of a loved one, or financial problems
• Going through a major life change‚ even if it was planned
• Having a medical problem, such as cancer, stroke, or chronic pain
• Taking certain medications.
• Using alcohol or drugs

 

Who Gets Depression?

 

In general‚ about 1 out of every 6 adults will have depression at some time in their life. Depression affects about 16 million American adults every year.Anyone can get depressed, and depression can happen at any age and in any type of person.

Many people who experience depression also have other mental health conditions. Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with depression. People who have anxiety disorders struggle with intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and/or panic. These feelings can interfere with daily activities and may last for a long time.

 

 

What Are the Treatments for Depression?

 

• Therapy. Many people benefit from psychotherapy—also called therapy or counseling. Most therapy lasts for a short time and focuses on thoughts‚ feelings‚ and issues that are happening in your life now. In some cases‚ understanding your past can help‚ but finding ways to address what is happening in your life now can help you cope and prepare you for challenges in the future.With therapy, you’ll work with your therapist to learn skills to help you cope with life, change behaviors that are causing problems‚ and find solutions. Do not feel shy or embarrassed about talking openly and honestly about your feelings and concerns. This is an important part of getting better.Some common goals of therapy include:
  • Getting healthier
  • Quitting smoking and stopping drug and alcohol use
  • Overcoming fears or insecurities
  • Coping with stress
  • Making sense of past painful events
  • Identifying things that worsen your depression
  • Having better relationships with family and friends
  • Understanding why something bothers you and creating a plan to deal with it

 

• Medication. Many people with depression find that taking prescribed medications called antidepressants can help improve their mood and coping skills.  Sometimes it takes several tries to find the best medication and the right dose for you, so be patient.

 

How to Get Help

 

Some people who are depressed may think about hurting themselves or committing suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts about hurting themselves or committing suicide‚ please seek immediate help. The following resources can help:

• Call 1−800−273−TALK (8255) to reach a 24−hour crisis center or dial 911. 1−800−273−TALK is the National Suicide Prevention LifelineExternal, which provides free‚ confidential help to people in crisis. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services AdministrationExternal runs this lifeline.
• Call your mental health provider.
• Get help from your primary doctor or other health care provider.
• Reach out to a close friend or loved one.
• Contact a minister, spiritual leader, or someone else in your faith community.

 

Additional Resources

 

If you are and dealing with depression or anxiety, check out the following resources:

• Depression
• MentalHealth.govExternal
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)External
• National Institute of Mental HealthExternal
  • What Is Depression?External
  • What Are Anxiety Disorders?External
• Anxiety and Depression Association of AmericaExternal

 

 

 

As for me, this post makes me feel better already, I have started to come out of the shadows and fully embrace the beauty of life and in general, being thankful for life’s blessings. Yes I still get overwhelmed at times, feel anxious and alone on occasions. But I’m working on it. Some things I have been doing to cope: working out, expressing my real feelings to someone, learning to say no (to triggers and stressful situations) but on the other hand, I am learning to say YES to new experiences and friendships to better myself. I am slowly coming out of my shell.

I hope this post becomes helpful to you, or someone you know. Pls feel free to share this with someone who you feel needs some help. Being depressed, especially for longer periods of time is a real illness and be sure to let the people you know (suffering from depression) that you are there for them. Believe me, those words could be a matter of life and death.

 

 

 

 

sources: CDC-Depression and Anxiety, NIMH-Major Depression