Depression

Professor Wilson
ENG 101
11February 2013
Depression
What is depression? Is it something you have experienced before? My assumption is that, people don’t understand this illness if they have never experienced it. If they can’t see it (like the flu or cancer) then they don’t believe it. Most people believe depression is some kind of “scam” to justify laziness. What does it mean to be depressed and how can you control it? Treatment for depression like many other mental disorders, usually rely on psychotherapy and medication for the quickest and strongest effects. The effects of medication will usually be felt within six-eight weeks of taking an antidepressant. Unfortunately not everyone feels better on the the first medication tried. Some common misconceptions about depression are that isn’t a serious condition, one can just toughen up and take it, or they believe they will be like this forever. Depression comes in many forms, people with depression tend to avoid stressful situations, and it should not be confused with laziness.
Like many other illnesses, depression comes in many forms such as Major Depression (major depressive disorder) which causes sadness, anxious, or empty mood, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, thoughts of suicide, difficulty concentrating and remembering or making decisions. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely. Another form is Dysthymia (dysthymic disorder) this involves long lasting symptoms that are not disabling, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Lastly, Bipolar (manic depressive illness) is distinguished by cycling mood changes. Persons with this disorder may experience highs (mania) and lows (depression). While in the manic cycle, the person may be over talkative and have a lot of energy. While you are in the depressed cycle, one can have any or all symptoms of depression. All people at some point in their life, have experienced feeling sad or unhappy. If these feelings last for weeks or months, this could be a sign of depression. People with depression are often times told to avoid stressful situations. I’m sorry but, no one can avoid stress. Everyone has some kind of stress in their lives whether it is paying bills, work, children, school or relationships. Stress is a common part of life. Just remember, stress is a treatable illness. Just like Abraham Lincoln said, “You cannot fail unless you quit.” Lincoln suffered from depression and still managed to become President of the United States of America. Before becoming President he went through a great deal of personal failures. He filed Bankruptcy, his fiancé passed away, and he was defeated three times for U.S. Congress. Not to mention his nervous breakdown in 1836. He served as our President from March 1861, until his assassination in April 1865. He led our country through great internal crisis, the American Civil War and ending slavery.
Some people think that depressed people are just lazy instead of being depressed. It’s not society or strangers that sufferers from depression; it’s their own friends or families that cause the most pain due to their fallacy about what depression truly is. It’s often one’s own family that may say “pull yourself together” or “snap out of it”. Seriously, do you think anyone would choose to live like we do, if given the choice? I think not! People with depression have the attention of not doing anything, even the fun things they used to like to do. Lazy people pass up work, to go out and do things they that simply enjoy. Our culture does not have a good understanding of depression. As a result, stereotypes including beliefs that people with depression are just lazy or weak, or they should be able to “suck it up”. If a loved one has suffered with depression, he/she know that these stereotypes are untrue. People suffering find that if they tell their close friends or families about their depression, they receive support not judgment, from those they love. Labeling people lazy is a way of deeming them as morally unacceptable and deserving of their low status. If we call someone lazy, we do it to dismiss them, not understand them. Depression is an identity or character flaw. It is a disorder with its own symptoms. Unfortunately, to the outside world a person with depression is lazy. In reality, this disorder causes apathy and extreme exhaustion, so what may look like slothful behavior are really the devastating symptoms of depression.
Depression comes in many forms, people with depression tend to avoid stressful situations, and it should not be confused with laziness. It will take some time for people to understand this illness and not confuse it with something else. If someone has never experienced depression, then they can’t fully understand it. It is not something that someone can just snap out of or shake it off. Unfortunately, some uneducated people label depression as just plain laziness. Laziness is in no way related to depression. In reality, depression causes apathy and extreme exhaustion, so this could be misinterpreted by people as laziness. Labeling people as lazy is a way of deeming them as morally unacceptable and deserving of their low status. If we call someone lazy, we do it to dismiss them, not understand them. It is a disorder with its own symptoms. This disease is very serious and without proper guidance from a doctor it could result in suicide or suicidal thoughts. Avoiding stressful situations when depressed is often advised. Remember Abraham Lincoln dealt with many personal failures and still obtained his goal to be the President of the United States.