My Personal Struggle with Depression

Sometimes I think that depression sufferers are one of the most horribly misunderstood groups of people in the world. A lot of people who have never been there themselves, or have depression but don't recognize it, think that it's something one can just "snap out of". Often, it's treated like a particularly annoying mood swing that the depressed person needs to be criticized over. Sometimes, depression can be hard on women, because many well-meaning but ignorant friends will chalk it up to being "that time of the month". I've encountered all three attitudes during my bouts with depression.

Depression is an emotional problem that takes place in many forms, and, according to the American Psychiatric Association, affects 17 million Americans. While most depression sufferers go through periods of depression that go away, others suffer from Bipolar Disease, a form of depression that's characterized by alternate periods of depression and extreme elation, often accompanied by compulsive behavior. Another form of depression is seasonal depression, that affects people during the late fall and winter seasons and is brought on by longer periods of darkness.

My first true struggle with depression occurred in my late teens. I had just been through some major changes in life that involved moving two thousand miles from my home, being laid off from a job, and personal problems within my family. Some exposure to harmful, hurtful people and some other stressful events certainly didn't help matters much. I can't say that the depression symptoms began happening all at once, but I did start to notice them after all these stressful things happened. Most nights, it seemed, I hardly slept at all or would only sleep after fretting and fussing most of the night, resulting in waking up much later than anticipated. Even if I'd slept for a full eight hours, I would be awake for only a few hours and feel exhausted. Getting out of the house and doing things I liked soon became like anticipating having teeth pulled. Anyone who was around me could say that I would become very irritable for no reason, and seemed almost willing to pick a fight. Favorite TV shows, movies, and books failed to entertain. Sometimes it seemed like the only thing that would help me was taking a brisk walk.

The very worst depression symptom for me, and probably for others, is that all-encompassing sense of despair. People can't really observe this like they can the other symptoms. If someone else has never gone through a period of depression, attempting to describe it is probably pointless. That sense of despair can only be personally experienced, not described. I find putting it into words difficult, myself. The sense that I've felt during periods of depression is best described as feeling as though everything is positively hopeless, that things can only get worse instead of better, and that absolutely no one can help. This has been especially troubling for me as a person of faith, because a bad period of depression can lead to a partial and maybe even total loss of faith.

Every person is unique, and treating depression often varies based on the doctor that the person sees, the type of depression they've been diagnosed with, and what type of treatment that they are willing to undergo. Some may require prescription medication as well as meeting with a counselor, some might just need to see a counselor, and others might be able to treat their depression using herbal and other natural remedies. Most important is to have the support of family and friends during your treatment.

Regardless of how your depression is being treated, there are some ways to cope with your depression that will hopefully bring some peace and happiness back to your life. These are methods I've tried, and am passing them on to others in hopes that they will be helpful.

Avoid stressful and manipulative people as much as possible, including people on the Internet who fit this description. Dealing with difficult people is a part of life, and can't be avoided altogether. However, you can voluntarily limit your exposure to people who know how to "push your buttons". Don't socialize with people who make you upset, set appropriate boundaries with people who you must deal with that get you upset, and seriously considering changing jobs and/or living arrangements if possible. If heated discussions in Internet forums drag you down when you're depressed, avoid chatting online or stick to forums that don't permit debating.

Limit your viewing of the news and other stressful TV and radio programs when going through a bad depressive period. Much of what's on the news is upsetting enough. Consider watching one of your favorite movies or TV shows instead, or listening to a favorite CD. Rather than watching TV before going to bed, I often read or spend time watching the stars for awhile.

Get out and do things with your friends, even if they have somewhat different taste in activities from yours. Maybe your friends are into fishing and you're into hiking. If you accompany them on a fishing trip, you're still enjoying each others' company and spending time outdoors. Many people sadly end up alienating themselves from their friends when they're depressed because they have no desire to do anything.

Work with your family members and friends to set boundaries if your behavior gets out of hand. I know that others have fallen victim to bursts of irritability when I've been depressed. Help your family members recognize when you're venting and when you're rehashing the same thoughts over again. Sometimes you might need to remove yourself from the situation for a cooling-off period. Sometimes a walk around the block helps. (Only remove yourself from others' company if you are NOT currently harboring suicidal thoughts).

I'd like to add a special note here, too. While thoughts of despair and even death are common when depressed, not all depression sufferers are suicidal. If your thoughts of death are constant, dominate your thoughts, and you feel you may follow through on them, please get help immediately. Tell a trusted friend, family member or clergyperson; call a hotline such as the Samaritans; and seek help from a mental health clinic. If you feel that you're in danger of harming yourself and don't have anyone who can get help for you, call your local EMS or police department.

I hope these tips on coping with depression have been helpful for you.