Depression 2

Depression is a powerful and complex ailment. It's so much more than simply feeling "down". It is a chemical imbalance in the brain, combined with a strong emotional fatigue that leaves a person drained and empty. I have struggled with depression for the majority of my adult life and have learned a few things about it. First off, there is no cure. The low periods can come and go, and vary in severity, but they will never completely disappear. It is a daunting weight that will never completely be eradicated. Second: medicine will only help to a degree. It would be nice if feeling ok was as simple as popping a pill, but in reality, antidepressants are simply a means of keeping the serotonin levels in your brain on par with what they would be in a normal person. That's not to say they aren't important, they really are, but they only deal with the chemical aspect of the condition. Third; therapy is crucial. I am not ashamed to admit that I have had to receive professional help with my condition. Seeing trained professionals who have a strong fundamental understanding of the human mind and it's various ailments has been instrumental in helping me bounce back from some of my lowest points. Fourth; "spirals" as I call them, can be unbearably painful and, at times, dangerous. A "spiral" is when all of the symptoms of and factors that go into depression, pile up on you at once, leaving you trapped in a vicious cycle of melancholy misery. Living with depression is painful and dreary, plain and simple. It is an additional invisible weight. It is a looming state of mind that is always right around the corner, waiting to consume you, and sometimes, it does. A common misconception about depression is that those afflicted simply need someone to talk to. While outreach does help, it is only one means of treatment out of many others that are required to truly combat depression. I know many people would like to think that they're truly helping but the fact of the matter is, unless they are trained therapists, there is only so much they can do to help. Another unfortunate fact is that, as I know all too well, sometimes depression will get the better of you. Sometimes the spirals are inevitable. Since I've struggled with depression for such a long time, I've gotten to the point when I can tell when a spiral is about to happen. They can be triggered by any number of things, or they can simply happen for no reason at all, but when you're at those low points, sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is so dim you can't see it at all, and that's when the ailment becomes most dangerous. People who struggle with depression go through life with additional emotional weight, which is why it's so incredible when you hear about someone managing to do wonderful things with their lives while simultaneously battling these demons. Depression is complex and powerful, and while it cannot be cured, it can be effectively treated and those afflicted can go on to live fulfilling lives. I'd like to think that's what I'm doing.