Did you know depression effects most of us at some point, and how it differs in length and capacity is person dependant?
Depression also known as Depressive disorder is classed as a long-term mental health condition that involves a depressive mood and loss of interest in activities long term. An estimated 5% of adults suffer from depression globally and it effects more women than men (WHO, 2023)
Depression differs from general mood changes and can affect all aspects of an individuals life, including work life, school life, relationships, family, friends and an individuals inner community. Long term depression can encourage suicidal thoughts and idealizations to become more present also, although treatment has been seen to be effective, many individuals don’t receive the treatment they need
A depressive episode can mix in feelings for an individual, from feeling extremely tired, sad, irritable, frustrated, empty, worthless, useless and many more, when feeling these an individual can lose all motivation for personal activities or daily expectations, these feelings last long term as appose to short term, alongside the re-percussive cause (no motivation) can come guilt, disrupted sleep and hopelessness about the future, these extra feelings are due to not being motivated and able to complete regular tasks, it can become a continuous cycle
Depression -> Lack of motivation -> Not able to do regular tasks -> Guilt -> Depression
Depression is the cause of a continuous release of stress receptors over time, these can be from childhood or adult trauma, the more trauma that happens the more stress that is released. As a child experience depression these feelings can easily become suppressed and be reacted in other behaviours such as quietness, anger, withdrawal. As an adult it has been seen to be feelings of no enjoyment and and feelings of no feelings (numbness). Adulthood depression has been referenced by Jim Carey as holding a character for so long and your body saying no, i do not want to be this person anymore, so as a reaction your body slows down, your mind gets tired and you are forced into a rest mode, (depression).
There are levels of severity when diagnosing depression, a single episode depressive disorder, which is a persons first and only episode. Recurrent depressive disorder, meaning the person has a history of at least two depressive episodes and bipolar disorder which is when depressive disorders mix with other mental functions
Depression is the result of many factors, being social, psychological, and biological factors. When diagnosing depression all adverse life events need to be considered when assessing depressive symptoms. Any recreational drug or alcohol participation needs to be understood as these may factor ones depressive symptoms, any illness’s or mental health disorders need to be considered also, many individuals with depression struggle to comprehend their symptoms but with the correct support and understanding they can maintain a healthy mental health
So how depression can effect an individual differs, but ensuring that an individual understands their depths and grasps support where they are able too, they will be okay
Depression presents itself in many different ways, in ways such as as individual not cleaning their self and their home, isolating their self from their loved ones, not eating or drinking properly or over eating, irregular sleeping patterns, feelings of worthlessness, no motivation and many more.
But understanding how, why, what, where it is that they are most susceptible to their depressive symptoms will enable them the ability to grow through and maybe eradicate their depressive traits for their future self, and please understand that depression does not define anyone, it may be part of an individual but it is not a definition of that individual, i guess it just shows that they have spent along time being tough
Many people experience depression, it is just that some people experience these for longer, it does not mean that anyone’s depression is invalidated as it is each experienced differently, i guess i am trying to align you with any long term symptoms so that if you are or have been low for a long time, that it is depression, once you understand it is depression maybe we can take the steps to recovery, reach out ✌️
– Author
Reducing depressive symptoms can be tough but ensuring that you stay hydrated and maintain eating healthily you will be okay, any irrational thoughts need to be acknowledged but then dismissed and ensure that you are taking care of yourselves;
Also ensuring that you rest when your body tells you to rest, that it is okay to wake up feeling sad, that it is okay to be sad and it is okay to not be motivated. Please also ensure that all medication options have been tried in case their is a neurological imbalance, and ensuring that an individual whether that being your self or for another person has reached out for support for therapy, as this will help with decreasing depressive symptoms, we can support you whilst anyone waits for this support @ www.suicideapuk.co.uk, but always be kind to yourself, you are okay, and will be okay
As always if you are struggling please reach out for support
The below poem is an outlook of long-term depression
Her fluctuated heart crumbled recurrently,
Whilst her gentle soul slowly withered unbearably
Time showed her how to harbour strength and resilience,
Just no one explained how tiring it was to maintain dissonance
How the depths of despair were torturously dark and cruel,
Feeling defeated all the way, losing colours ever since first school
But her aura still glowed, even amongst the ever-growing pressure,
Telling herself daily, “come on, hold it girl you must not be any lesser”
Because if your aura decides today to go grey and not glow,
Then the real side that you hide from the world could become on show
You see to her it has been taught that people have it worse,
But all this ever felt like for her is a never-ending living curse
Because behind her walked path, is pain & loss with deep setted trauma,
“Be alone and heal girl” she will tell herself, “forever a loner”
You know, people see the glow that she has gifted them to see,
But many wouldn’t withstand the darkness in her that’s buried deep
See its not your path to understand anyway it be only hers,
Nobody could feel this path, her long-term gift of pain and despair
But hopefully one day, and maybe that’s someday soon,
The pain will go, reducing the conversations she has to have with the moon
For she will tell herself even in the darkness, that today is a new day,
And although, even still, all sorts of colours are able to mix with grey
Thankyou for reading
Dan