So many of you (and yes this includes everyone. No one is an exception here) need to learn that depression is so much more than just wanting to kill yourself.
It's a much more complicated psychological disorder than we give it credit for because it could happen to anyone, and everyone can be treated (professionally) for it differently.
But there's so many reasons as to why ending one's life feels like the only goal. Depression is not just an equation where "big sad" + bad day = killing yourself.
People with depression often lose interest in things that once brought them happiness. And this isn't a choice. It happens due to chemical imbalances in the brain, which is why depression is often treated by a psychologist. Chemical imbalances of hormones such as serotonin and dopamine causes one to just stop enjoying doing hobbies you would typically enjoy doing.
For some people, overeating is a symptom. There's a feeling of joy that can briefly spark in the brain when people eat comfort foods that they may not even be aware of, and the brain continues to seek out that spark.
For others, not eating enough can be a symptom. This could be for many reasons, but the most common is extreme fatigue of the body or getting so lost in thought that the day seems to pass by quicker than they realized.
There's also the constant state of exhaustion. Another factor contributed from chemical imbalances of the brain. Not only do serotonin and dopamine affect interest, but they also affect how energized you feel. With smaller amounts of these chemicals can come with extreme tiredness.
Many times, anxiety and depression go hand in hand. In most of these cases, the anxiety can lead to self-isolation or an influx of ideas such as worthlessness. Anxiety is a hyperactivity of the brain that causes this influx of such self-deprecating thoughts, which is why it so often is paired with depression. This hyperactivity can generate thoughts that lower overall mood and mental stability, and can be another reason why so many people feel tired all of the time.
With this hyperactivity also comes with a great loss of sleep for many. Sleep is extremely important for not only physical, but mental health as well. Loss of sleep can affect reaction times, the capability to stay focused, and memory.
However not everyone loses sleep to depression. Like said earlier, depression is a lot more complicated than we let on, and it's not a one size fits all situation. The symptoms for everyone may be different. Which is why some people tend to sleep too much frequently, which happens due to the aforementioned continuous fatigue.
Just as there are many symptoms of depression, there are many treatments. Not one treatment will help everyone in the world. It needs to be treated by professionals, but there are ways you can help reduce the symptoms.
But as technology becomes a basic part of our lives, I think how we treat each other is also extremely important too. You will never know what someone else is going through on the other side of your screen. Treating them like a human person with feelings and respecting that is the least you could do.
