Some hard truth about depression
With Joey De Leon’s depression comment last week, and now, Nadine Lustre’s brother taking his own life, depression is so much talked about.
There are so many misconceptions when it comes to depression. Mostly, in the Philippines, it’s either you don’t pray enough or you don’t go out to mingle.
Here’s the hard truth about depression: It is also SCIENCE.
It’s not just about having problems, may pinagdadaanan, being pessimistic or sad. Those who don’t understand depression treat it as being emo or just being sad all the time. They refuse to believe that it is basically just like any other illness that needs to be treated.
It is just like cancer or aids, something is wrong inside our body. In the case of depression, it is mostly the hormones or brain chemistry that are involve. Sometimes, it’s the life circumstances that onsets the imbalance in hormones or brain chemistry thus causing depression.
Depression is much more difficult to understand because what it affects is how one thinks and how one lives.
For the less scientific side of depression:
Depression is a dark place where people just want to escape. They don’t know why they are there or what it is.They didn’t choose to be there. They don’t even know how they got there. They just want a way out. People are not suicidal because they chose it. They think of death as the only escape from darkness.
It is already difficult for someone going through it, don’t make it more difficult by dismissing their emotions.
If you suspect you have depression:
For some, it is difficult to differentiate sadness from depression. If you think you have depression, seek professional help. If it turns out to be negative, which is even better, at least you know. That’s what doctors are for.
One way to know if you need to seek help; if you have thoughts of harming yourself.
Live healthy. Go green. It helps with balancing your hormones.
Go out. Enjoy the early morning sun. I mean, you can buy vitamin D in drug stores but the Sun is for free. Just sayin.
Fruit smoothies. Fresh fruits, not powdered flavors.
Balance your sugar in take. There’s the sugar rush and then there’s the sugar crash. Gotta take care of your insulin!
Exercise regularly. It releases endorphin, serotonin and dopamine a.k.a the happy hormones. Not all hormones but whatevs.
Talk to someone you trust.
Some of the things I will list here can help improve your mood but it is still best to ask your doctor:
Maca Root (although for some it worsens depression)
Multivitamins (any brand)
If you know someone who is depressed:
Do not dismiss it. DO NOT laugh at them
Do not force her/him to talk about it. Depression involves the deepest part of the mind, it can be very personal for them. Just let them know you’re there anytime.
If you don’t know someone who is depressed:
Do not talk about it like it is some imaginary illness. The person you’re talking to or someone near might be going through it. Don’t be an ass. Be educated.
Believe me, I know what I’m talking about.
