Depression is a mental illness that, according to the World Health Organization, affects 350 million people globally, so why aren’t we talking about the real effects? Growing up I always thought depressed people were “crazy” – they could not physically move from bed and they cut themselves in an attempt to die. But quite frankly it’s not that simple and the misconception that it is can be an issue because of the shame it puts on those affected.
I’ve been officially diagnosed as depressed since the last few months of November, however it’s presumed that it started much earlier, while I was dealing with an emotionally abusive relationship and it’s possible I’ve had in it the past as well. But I’ve never tried cutting myself, and I haven’t been popping Prozac since the womb. I haven’t dealt with blatant hardships like drug-addicted babies and children of divorced parents have but again, it’s not that simple.
Depression is at its core an illness. It can have many different onsets and effects – although it has many common characteristics, the illness itself is not one size fits all. Personally, my depressive episodes include not much eating, isolation, napping, hilarious tweet ideas and retail therapy. Luckily my tendencies are mainly harmless but unfortunately that isn’t the case for everyone.
I know people who have taken to recreational drug use to numb the pain. I know others who use guys as a coping mechanism, whether it be “playing” them or getting “played” themselves. For others I know, their depressive episodes go hand in hand with eating disorders. The effects of this illness are more than that though; it’s self-blame, it’s shame, it’s carelessness and it’s detrimental to those around you. This disease is losing friends who decide your mental illness is just laziness and oversensitivity. It’s family members who treat you like you’re breakable, like you’re someone who needs to be pitied. It’s everyone staring but nobody saying anything because they’re afraid of you, as if the sadness is contagious.
Until the effects of depression are better understood by the general public, it’s safe to say that the harsh stigmas around this illness won’t be second guessed. Depression is not “one size fits all,” depression is as unique as the individual it affects. The world’s current mindset towards this illness is truly harmful to those who are suffering enough – so I encourage those with depression, and those who have been in close relations with it, to use your voice for the better. Speak on the realities of depression when you hear false statements. The more we talk about the effects of this affliction, the closer we come to a more tolerant and understanding community surrounding it.
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