With the sad news of comedy legend Robin Williams passing this week, depression has again come more to the surface in the mainstream news. Mr. Williams may have displayed a happy-go-lucky facade to the world and those around him, but deep inside, he was struggling, hurting because of this disease. Depression affects about 15 million adults in the United States, which is 6.7% of the population. Anxiety and depression disorders can develop from numerous factors including brain chemistry, personality, genetics and life events.
Major depression is a severly depressed mood that goes on for two weeks or more and it interferes with that person’s daily functions in life. Out of those treated for depression, approximately 80% show an improvement in their symptoms within four to six weeks after beginning medication. Despite the fact that the success rate is high, nearly two out of three people suffering with the disease do not actively seek nor get proper treatment. Depression is the cause of more than two-thirds of the 30,000 reported suicides in the United States each year. For every two homicides committed, there are three suicides. Not to mention that the rate is more than 50% higher for older adults in the nation as a whole.
Not only have I dealt with (and continue to do so) depression as well as anxiety, I’ve had many close friends and family that have also struggled with the disease. Sadly, I’ve also lost a dear friend to depression. The seriousness of illness is great. When you hit a major depressive state, you can feel like you’re lost, like there’s just nothing worth getting out of bed for. No matter how many loved ones surround you, no matter how great your life is (or seems), it’s just not enough. You have entered a dark hole.
It’s an emptiness that I have felt more than once. Nothing helps you escape the loneliness and dread that overcomes you in every way. You just aren’t yourself. At that point, the disease of depression has taken over, and is winning. You just can’t think rationally and it all seems hopeless. There is no longer a light of any kind at the end of the tunnel.
PLEASE, PLEASE if you or someone you know has been dealing with depression, ask for help. You really cannot do it on your own. Do not be afraid to ask for help and get on the path to feeling better. No one deserves to be sad and lonely all the time. If you are depressed, you are sick, it’s just like diabetes or any other illness. Do not suffer through the pain alone. There are people who care. Please check out the resources below and get help.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
Families for Depression Awareness
HelpGuide.Org
Thank you for sharing this. I don’t struggle with depression but do deal with anxiety. Mental diseases are real and need to be discussed and treated instead of swept under the rug.