Understanding Depression
Depression is a serious illness and needs to be treated as such. It’s been suggested by professionals; I’ve been depressed since I was a young child. It had gone untreated until I took myself to a psychologist and a psychiatrist when I was 40. Psychologists or therapists talks to patients to determine if it is chronic depression and/or does the patient have good reason to be depressed (i.e. a divorce, death, separation from a child). Even situational depression can lead into a serious clinical depression if it continues beyond a reasonable time frame. A dear friend of mine divorced and went into a deep depression for four years. She finally was put on an antidepressant and came out of her depressive episode. She suffered needlessly.
I have become suicidal many times throughout my life, and actually attempted suicide once. It’s a crippling illness that should be addressed by a doctor of psychiatry. A lot of folks ask their primary care doctor for an antidepressant and usually get one. Beware, PC’s do not possess the knowledge about these drugs like a psychiatrist does. Those around you can certainly see the affects your depression has on you. You offer no real conversation, and usually isolate yourself from others. If asked if you’re alright–you respond yes; when in fact you are not okay. By the time I was in my thirties I remained depressed over my husband’s unexpected death. I spent nine months crying just about non-stop, and another serious episode of depression when my only child decided to go on a mission. I was not permitted to talk to him, or see him. We could exchange letters. I happened to work with a psychologist, and he pulled me aside one day and said, “Phyllis, I know you are seriously depressed and it’s getting worse. I’m concerned for you, and I think you could benefit from seeing an associate of mine. I began therapy and my therapist referred me to a psychiatrist for anti-depressants and whatever else he might do for me. It saved my life.
I easily recall the 45 minute drive from work to home. I was crying as soon as I got in the car and cried non-stop until I was home. I had begun drinking again; not a good combo. One evening, I entered a dark house that was SO empty. I went to my room and sat on the edge of the bed and stared at nothing for the next 3 hours. It took a while for me to get the right antidepressant, but I finally started feeling better after enough of the drug was on-board. I had a teenage son that would say to me, come play music with me and you’ll feel better, or go do something fun! You’ve got to snap out of this mom. He didn’t understand what depression is. It is not something you “snap out of,” nor does doing fun things effect it. I could never get up to go do some fun thing. I tried to explain to him it’s very much like having a broken leg. You cannot go run a race with a broken leg anymore than you can “snap out of it.”
My poor son, later in life also suffers with depression (it can be hereditary). He said, I didn’t begin to understand why you didn’t just snap out of it but I do now. Being depressed DOES NOT mean you are crazy! I’ve been taking perscription medicine for almost 30 years now, and I haven’t been seriously depressed for at least 20 years. My son takes an anti-pressant also and can now enjoy his life.
If you are depressed, please don’t wait. Seek out and find the help you deserve. There is no shame in taking care of yourself. Please get the help you need to live your life.
