The Difficult Depression
The feeling of loneliness and despair is a common emotion in society today, and is something easily identifiable, however when a person starts to feel this way it can be difficult for them to acknowledge that what they are going through is more than just a bad day or blues, but in fact is depression. Rather than just a short feeling of sadness, depression is a mental disorder requiring medical attention, and unfortunately a difficult thing to go through.
Depression affects people of all ages, genders and backgrounds, for many differing reasons. Its important to note that depression is not a sign of personal weakness, or something one can easily make go away. Without treatment, depression can last for months, years or sometimes even a persons entire life, although treatment can make all the difference.
A person with depression may feel sad, worthless, have no appetite, have difficulty sleeping, have suicidal thoughts, or appear energetic and outgoing while inside they are feeling anguished. Symptoms can sometimes slip by unnoticed, develop slowly or even come on suddenly, and without proper treatment, they can become more severe. The complications with depression can vary as well, such as chronic pain, drug or alcohol abuse, social isolation, and family problems.
There is no one way to identify or address depression, as it is different for everyone and can affect people in various ways. Some common therapies for depression include medications, talk therapy, light therapy, or a combination of several methods. The goal in seeking treatment is to get to the root causes of the depression and the best way to achieve this is to find a mental health care provider who has experience in dealing with depression in order to accurately diagnose and give you the best advice to help.
It can be difficult to come to terms with the idea of depression and to make the first step to get treatment, however finding a therapist that can help is an important step to healing. When finding the right therapist, look for one who will listen and helps to identify the potential causes of the depression. This might involve talking about past traumas or even more general issues such as relationships, work, or school. Talking through these issues can help with processing them and understanding how they are connected to the depression.
Depression is extremely strenuous to go through and often challenges ones ability to cope. However, while it may be hard to see in the midst of depression, there is healing, recovery, and hope. Seeking treatment can help one to lessen the severity of symptoms and regain control of ones life. There is no shame in reaching out for help and even talking about the feelings and emotions associated with depression can be a form of relief. While it can be an arduous process, it is possible to counteract the affects of depression and once again find joy and hope in the world.