What do you understand about depression and what a person goes through when suffering from it?

Question

I have been suffering from depression for more than two and a half years now, however I was only diagnosed of this about 2 months ago. I am 20 and am studying at uni. I have been taking medication and been doing a lot of things to help me get better e.g. praying, cycling, eating better, sleeping better. I am beginning to enjoy what I used to before. So it is improving a lot, I feel so much more better and am beginning to enjoy life again.

Before I started suffering from depression, I feel that I did not know very much about it at all. I also did not know or understand very much about other mental illness.

My main question is:
What do people, who have never suffered from depression or have never had a close friend/relative suffering from depression, think depression is?


Also what do people who have suffered from depression or experienced depression in others think about depression... and what do they think feel about how other people who haven't suffered understand/know?

I hated what happened to me and I wish it never happens to me again. If you haven't experienced it then great, I would not want other people to suffer from it, the way I did.

I also would like to raise the awareness of depression in general but especially in students like me who are moving away from home for the first time.

I was wondering how I could go about this? What could I do?

Thank you very much for your answers and also sorry for the so longggggg question :-)

Answer 1

Some people think that depression is an emotional problem, which could be fixed with just the right attitude.

Others think it's a weakness, as if it's a matter of willpower or being weak willed.

I find that it's purely physiological, meaning that it is a physical problem that has consequences.

Fatigue, exhaustion, lack of focus and concentration, increased errors at work, ineffectiveness, these are real problems of depression.

Answer 2

Hi,
I've suffered from depression for nine years now. Throughout that time, I have lost friends because of my disorder. My family doesn't understand and I've come to understand that there is a lot of stigma surrounding mental illness. My mother would always tell me "You just need a man," or "What have you got to be depressed about?" I've seen a lot of naivity with regards to mental illness and I understand how it feels to want ot hide away and not talk about it. Sometimes we just need to know that we can persevere despite that. I never got support from my family. I had to find help on my own. I'm 23 now and doing better than I have in nine years. Couldn't have done it without myself, my therapist, and the few friends who stuck around.

Stop the stigma, everyone. Promote mental illness awareness.

Take care,
Chrissy
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In response to your second question, raising awareness starts with your perseverence to do so. I've been trying to stop the stigma and raise awareness of mental disorders for some time. I would suggest trying to find a place where you can hold peer to peer depression/anxiety support. Maybe make up fliers of some sort with something to the effect of "Stop the stigma on mental illness." Make people think. Get their attention. But most of all, don't be ashamed or afraid to go out there and do it. You are human like everyone else and we suffer just as much as anyone with a disorder. Stay strong, and every second you've got, promote mental health awareness.

Best of luck!

Also, remember, we CAN change the world, maybe not all at once, but one person at a time.

Answer 3

It can be a simple chemical imbalance or it can be caused by the stress and strain of society on your mind. I suffered from depression because I had chronic pain. I have suffered from depression because of death, because of peoples reactions, because of my own actions. Depression is a part of life, if you did not experience the lows the highs would not seem so high. We are at a stage now where more and more people are interacting with machines rather than humans people need this human contact. Get out, live life, I know so amny who have shut themself away and become depressed. Find something worth living for wether it be love or a lifes ambission.

"Will you step to the future or dwell on the past, what will you fight be, it colour or class? Will you live to work or will you work to live?

Answer 4

Most people who suffer from depression has had something bad or memorable happen to them probably earlier in life, it might be something and nothing but is still at the back of your mind, they might have suffered from depression for years before going to the doctor, it just doesn`t happen in days, medication usually sorts it out for a while but some people may have reccurance when the medication stops, the more you know about depression the more you can deal with it, sometimes a psychiatrist is neded in bad cases, hope you are well soon

Answer 5

hey i started suffering from depression 5 years ago when i was 13, it started when my 14 year old cousin died! depression is just the bodys way of tellinG you its hurt or tired and that it needs a break from the life you are living. Try to talk to a close friend about how your feeling talkin always makes it better. I personaly dont think anti depresants work as you become addicted to them and when you do finaly come of them depression hits back the best way to over come depression is to have a healthy active life! but the best cure is laughter, since losin my cousin i have also lost my uncle n 2 friends they all passed away 3 years ago within 2 weeks of each other and jus over a week ago my aunt passed away after suffering from cancer, she was just 38, as much as it hurts i know i have to be strong and look forward to the future, just think of all the things you want to achieve and you cant go wrong. but remember KEEP SMILING AND LAUGHING!!!
a smile is a curve that can straighten out alot of things!

Answer 6

I've had depression most of my life and on medication.Nobody understands it unless they've been through it,they just think you're feeling down,these people I just avoid when going through a bad time.
I had a friend who used to be very unsympathetic in the past and just considered me miserable,negative and moaning until she suddenly got it due to her circumstances,that ridiculing has stopped now.
People who call themselves depressed when they are just feeling down bug me.It cripples and affects every aspect of my life. Alot of the time I'd rather just hibernate from the world.It's an awful illness to have.Medication can help,I say just carry on with the tabs if it keeps it at bay and avoid those people who don't have a clue when it's really bad cos they 'think' you just need 'cheering up'!

Answer 7

The popular culture likes to laugh and joke about suicide.

My family has experienced many of the problems and pains that go with depression.

Bi-Polar disorder is especially hard for people to understand and is difficult to get diagnosed even by doctors.

Until someone experiences the feeling and pain of clinical depression, they can't realize what it is.

You are a privileged person if you experience it and can escape with your life and can function normally.

Go and spread the word.

Answer 8

All i know is that it hits me here and there but what helps me out is to have goals for myself even if they are ridiculous to get me going through the day until you realize your not even thinking about your depression. What I think it is, is that our mind overthinks waaay too much and you begin to over analyze everything. I tend to do it with my relationship (im married), with myself, with what I used to be like....but you have to try to keep your mind busy and try to look at the positives in your life. One thing that I read was "a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks". Im not saying your self conscience or anything but putting a smile on your face allows you to feel a bit happier but it will automatically put a smile on people faces around you and it just creates positive energy. Long story short, try to not think about it too much because you trying to solve it will makes you maore depressed sometimes.

Answer 9

you could start a support group at your school and make flyers and then take out an ad in the school newspaper to help raise awareness, i bet you would be supprised at all the people who will come. I think its great you want to help people and alot of people don't even know whats wrong they just know they are miserable. The world needs more people like you

Answer 10

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