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Depression-what are we talking about?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Want to vent a bit here- hope nobody minds. There is a lot of talk about depression here which I am very interested in reading, though I don't normally respond much.
It's a subject close to home. I was diagnosed with major depression at the age of 7 (yes, very unusual) and have been suffering from a chronic and severe form of this disease ever since, and have had other mental health problems along the way. I've taken medication for 20 years and have tried everything from herbal remedies to hospitalization to electroshock therapy to help control this horrible illness.
Anyway, here's my huge beef. IMHO, most people don't have the first idea about this terrible disease, so I am constantly judged. There are so many misconceptions about depression...I would think more that any other disease.
One of them....there is a huge difference between a major clinical depression and feeling sad. Everyone gets sad sometimes, but this is a normal reaction to a death in the family or breaking up with someone. It is hard and terrible, but not a disease. The idea that depression is nothing more than feeling blue is just plain wrong. Sadness may or may not be a part of it, but true depression involves many awful symptoms, many of which are physical.
This is hard for sufferers, as others can't understand why they don't just cheer up, and think that they are responsible for what they are going through. If I hear "you just need to think positive" one more time....grrrr.
Another thing that most people don't realize is that depression is a neurochemical disorder...a biologically based disease. It's not something you develop through having bad parents or a crummy upbringing (though these may trigger it). Thanks to recent research and advances in technology, we know what chemicals are responsible and are actually able to see that depressives have different brains than others (using PET scans). We have already found the genes responsible for schizophrenia and manic depression...I think depression isn't far behind.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish people could understand that my depression is often not what they think. I wish people would take the time to read a little so they could understand why I sometimes can't do the things they can. I don't need your sympathy, just your respect. I work my butt off every day to fight this. I am not lazy. I didn't ask for this, but I don't use it as an excuse. I simply would like people to acknowledge that I have a disease, and that the things they take for granted (getting out of bed) are a monumental challenge for me.
Anyway, I'm sure others with depression have had some similar experiences. A book about mental health was recently published in Canada..it's called "The Last Taboo". Pretty appropriate.
Anyone else feel the same way?
It's a subject close to home. I was diagnosed with major depression at the age of 7 (yes, very unusual) and have been suffering from a chronic and severe form of this disease ever since, and have had other mental health problems along the way. I've taken medication for 20 years and have tried everything from herbal remedies to hospitalization to electroshock therapy to help control this horrible illness.
Anyway, here's my huge beef. IMHO, most people don't have the first idea about this terrible disease, so I am constantly judged. There are so many misconceptions about depression...I would think more that any other disease.
One of them....there is a huge difference between a major clinical depression and feeling sad. Everyone gets sad sometimes, but this is a normal reaction to a death in the family or breaking up with someone. It is hard and terrible, but not a disease. The idea that depression is nothing more than feeling blue is just plain wrong. Sadness may or may not be a part of it, but true depression involves many awful symptoms, many of which are physical.
This is hard for sufferers, as others can't understand why they don't just cheer up, and think that they are responsible for what they are going through. If I hear "you just need to think positive" one more time....grrrr.
Another thing that most people don't realize is that depression is a neurochemical disorder...a biologically based disease. It's not something you develop through having bad parents or a crummy upbringing (though these may trigger it). Thanks to recent research and advances in technology, we know what chemicals are responsible and are actually able to see that depressives have different brains than others (using PET scans). We have already found the genes responsible for schizophrenia and manic depression...I think depression isn't far behind.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that I wish people could understand that my depression is often not what they think. I wish people would take the time to read a little so they could understand why I sometimes can't do the things they can. I don't need your sympathy, just your respect. I work my butt off every day to fight this. I am not lazy. I didn't ask for this, but I don't use it as an excuse. I simply would like people to acknowledge that I have a disease, and that the things they take for granted (getting out of bed) are a monumental challenge for me.
Anyway, I'm sure others with depression have had some similar experiences. A book about mental health was recently published in Canada..it's called "The Last Taboo". Pretty appropriate.
Anyone else feel the same way?
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Comments
the book "the last taboo".. who was it by? im sure my mum would be very interested to read it, she suffers from depression and so do her sister and her mum.
It only takes one tree to make a thousand matches, only takes one match to burn a thousand trees
i totally know what ur talkin bour girl. How many times have i been told to "smile" or "cheer up, it can't be that bad." No-one understands that depression cannot just be got rid of. I kind of feel sorry for people that don't understand though because my m8s
tried hard to cheer me up when i was badly depressed, but i couldn't make them realise that although i was grateful to them, even what i wanted most couldn't make me happy.
Also people use the word "depressed" too lightly. I used to use it all time, before i became depressed and discovered the true meaning of the word.
I don't know if this makes much sense as i am really struggling to put my feelings into words.
If the sky that we look upon
should tumble and fall
or the mountains should crumble in the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry,
No, I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand
Stand by me