Depression is a serious mental illness, but it’s also something that we all have to deal with at one point or another. I used to think that depression was something that only my family dealt with, but I’ve since realized it’s a condition that affects many people in varying degrees. Whenever someone you know tells you they’re depressed, here are some things you should know:
You Have To Talk About It
You can’t hide it. This is a big one, because people with clinical depression often try to hide their symptoms and tell themselves that they don’t need help. But if you’re feeling depressed, there’s no way around this: You need to talk about it with someone–and not just anyone will do, says Dr Charles Noplis! The person you confide in should be someone who will listen and take action on your behalf when necessary (i.e., if your boss starts treating you differently after finding out about your mental health issues).
It’s Not Your Fault
Depression is a medical condition. It’s not your fault, and it’s not something you can control on your own. Depression doesn’t mean that you’re weak or lazy; it means that something in your brain isn’t working properly. You may have heard people say things like “pull yourself up by your bootstraps” or “snap out of it.” But these aren’t helpful suggestions for those who suffer from clinical depression–they only make things worse!
When someone with clinical depression hears these types of comments, they feel even more isolated because they know no one understands what they’re going through. And since depression has been portrayed as a weakness in pop culture, many people assume that anyone who suffers from this illness must also be weak-willed or lazy–which simply isn’t true at all!