The Facts About Depression
Separating myth from fact, destroying stereotypes
The Depressing Truth – Is Empowering
The truth is actually empowering. A basic principle: when we know more about something we have more power over it. Depression is fairly elusive. We must dig deep to find the truth. Some of the most important findings of depression have only recently been discovered. Research on depression is an ever-changing world. What we thought we knew just 20 years ago is completely different today.
For those that do NOT suffer from depression, but are trying to better understand the disease: Step 1 – completely forget what you thought you knew and start learning from scratch. Remove any preconceived notions or thoughts you have on the subject. Step 2 – realize that you cannot fully understand depression without suffering from the disease (sort of a catch 22). The ‘walk a mile in someone’s shoes’ concept is very very true with depression. Step 3 – understand that depression is way worse than you think it is. No matter how awful you feel about depression after learning a few facts, the actual experience of suffering from depression is devastating and almost impossible to articulate in words.
NOTE: this is not a definitive list on depression. This is a list of the ‘most common’ facts, but the complete list is much larger. Depression is a complicated disease and tends to affect each person differently. In addition, science reveals new facts about depression on a fairly regular basis. Here is some additional information about depression (here).
Depression is a disease – this is the single most frustrating issue for most sufferers. Our friends tell us; “just get over it” or “happiness is choice”. The best way to convey depression to someone who has never suffered from the disease is to wait until just the right moment; for example, when someone has a nasty flu bug, tell them; “just get over it” or “feeling better is a choice”. Then add; “ya know, just like depression” and smile. Depression is NOT a choice.
Depression is not completely genetic – science has come full circle on this topic. Before genetics, depression was thought to be a mental illness caused by environmental factors. Post genetics, depression became an illness largely due to someone’s genetic make-up. Now we know that it is a combination of genetics and environment. Depression is usually triggered by a life event or a series of events. Depression rarely appears without a trigger event.
Depression has different triggers – everyone is different and so are their triggers for depression. For some of us, emotional trauma can be a trigger. For others, physical trauma can unleash the disease. For many of us, it will be a complicated combination of the two. Identifying your trigger(s) is a critical step in treating the disease. However, the discovery process can be very painful and difficult.
Depression puts physical stress on the body – headaches, back pain, stomach issues, neck issues, and other tension related ailments have all been linked to depression. When people say that ‘depression is painful’, they are not being colorful in their expression. Depression causes actual physical pain.
There is another side to the physical suffering. Many confuse pain caused by depression with depression caused by chronic pain. People with chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and other tasking aliments have a higher risk of depression.
Depression is exhausting – seriously though, it is. Every wonder why your depressed friends like to sleep a lot? Imagine being in a constant battle with someone that knows all of the worst things about you. You cannot win the battle and maybe, more importantly, you are not allowed to stop battling. You are forced to fight in a war that is not yours but is of your making. Not only is the internal battling exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally, but sometimes the only reprieve is sleep. That’s why we sleep.
Depressed brains look different in M.R.I.’s and other scans – it’s all very scientific, but depression literally affects the brain. The disease can remap, reshape and change the chemical make-up of our brains. Nerds can read more (here), but it is very interesting.
Depression robs our brains of important chemicals – science is just beginning to understand the relationship between a lack of certain chemicals and depression. It was long thought that depression was a result of low levels of certain chemicals like Serotonin. However, new studies are finding that low Serotonin and other chemicals are a result of depression. This finding could hugely impact how the disease is treated.
Medications rarely help – Almost every study I’ve read recent reports that sufferers claim to get worse on medication. I don’t want to scare folks away from trying a medication because for those where medication does work, it usually works amazingly well. In addition, more and more doctors are finding that a combination of medications is the best approach. Tread carefully in these waters, but it could help.
For most people, medication is used to help in the initial control of the disease, but not useful on a long term basis. Other treatment types are usually best long term (i.e. exercise, therapy, meditation, a hobby, etc…). However – medication is often required in the initial phase of treatment, so don’t rule it out.
Depression is not as simple as we once thought. The disease manifests itself differently in each person, but the core symptoms seems to be similar. We all experience physical pain. We all get tired. We all get frustrated and want to find a way to stop the disease. In conclusion; depression sucks.
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This will be an open opener for novices that not know about depression. Depression can be so exhausting and sometimes medicine can’t just help.
Depression is a disease,a mental disorder. It is not just drama like what other perceive. It is no joke. I hope everyone who is suffering from it gets better.
Thanks so much for talking about this topic that most people don’t like to talk about. Yet depression affects millions of people around the world most of whom are not even aware.
What I know always is that depression is real though I have never gone through depression in my life but I know it’s real and therapy will be of great help.
I’m glad that people is stratig to realice that depression is more that just been sad. Is very hard to deal with depression when everyone around you think that you are just making drama for no reason.
Depression is hard to understand even for me who has suffered it for more tan 20years. Every time that I think that I have it under control teres a trigger that reminds me that I don’t
My friend had depression and I do not hate it and I understand but what ticks me off is when she talks smack about her son and family. Again, I get depression but come on to the point of saying that she wants to hurt her son NO even in depression that is not a good thing.
In my country, some narrow-minded, myopic people still judge people suffering from this disease. I hope they get to read this.
The bottomline is that depression is a mental illness. We need to end the stigma surrounding it and we need to be more supportive to those dealing with it.
Depression is a very sad state that really bogs a person down. It should be recognized and more resources put into trying to find medical ways of mitigating it.
As a sufferer of depression I can attest that it’s really a dark place to be. It’s always best to share with other people to ease the burden.
Wow…you opened my eyes to a whole slew of new facts..I never knew depression could be this serious..I have learnt a lot from your write up and I will sure go through this article again..Nice one
Thank you
It’s hard dealing with depression. Sometimes everyone around thinks you are okay but deep inside you are in disaster.
I have body pains of unidentifiable origin since the doctor couldn’t find anything abnormal about my checkup. I am very stressed from work for a few months now and I only had two weeks of rest. Weekends are also spent working so I guess I need a break, I’m getting sadder and sadder every week.
Like!! I blog frequently and I really thank you for your content. The article has truly peaked my interest.
May I simply say what a relief to uncover somebody that really understands what theyre discussing over the internet. You certainly know how to bring a problem to light and make it important. More and more people really need to check this out and understand this side of the story. I was surprised that youre not more popular because you certainly have the gift.
Everything is very open with a clear clarification of the issues. It was truly informative. Your website is very useful. Thanks for sharing!