Clinical depression is more than just feeling down in the dumps for a few days—it’s a serious mental health condition that can have a profound impact on every aspect of your life. While it’s true that anyone can experience a bout of depression at some point in their lives, people who live with clinical depression deal with the condition on a daily basis. Here are eight things that only people living with depression truly understand:
1. The blues and depression aren’t the same
Depression is a chronic illness, with symptoms that can include changes in mood, appetite, energy level, concentration, body language, and sleep patterns. It can make you feel hopeless and unable to cope with even the simplest daily tasks. On the other hand, sadness is a normal human emotion that we all experience from time to time. It’s usually a response to a situation or event, like losing a loved one, that generally passes with time. The difference between sadness and depression is that symptoms of depression can persist for weeks, or even months, at a time and can have a major impact on your quality of life.
2. You can’t just “get over” depression
Getting over depression is not simply a matter of willpower. Depression is a complex condition that often requires professional help and medication. Just like other illnesses, such as diabetes or heart disease, you can’t simply get over it. However, this isn’t to say that you can’t get better or learn to manage your symptoms. With proper treatment, most people with depression can manage their symptoms and live healthy, productive lives.
3. Sometimes depression is hard to talk about
Depression can be hard to talk about because it’s often seen as a sign of weakness. This isn’t true, of course, but it is not always easy to convince others (and yourself) of that. It can also be hard to put what you’re feeling into words, especially if you’re not sure what’s causing it. To talk about depression, you often must first acknowledge that something isn’t right, which can be scary. Moreover, even if you do want to talk about it, you may not have anyone in your life that seems like a safe person to confide in.
4. Leaving the house can seem impossible
When you’re depressed, the idea of getting out of bed, let alone leaving the house, can seem impossible. Everything can seem like too much effort, from getting dressed to taking a shower. The thought of interacting with other people can be overwhelming. It’s important to remember, though, that even if you don’t feel like it, getting out of the house and getting some fresh air can actually help to lift your mood.
5. It’s hard to remember that others care
When you’re depressed, it can be hard to remember that other people care about you. This is one of the most isolating aspects of the condition. Depression can make you feel like you’re a burden to others, so you may start withdrawing from your loved ones. Additionally, you may not want to see anyone or do anything when you are depressed, making it difficult for others to understand what you’re going through.
6. Physical health often gets put on the backburner
Depression can take a toll on your physical health as well as your mental health. This is because the condition can make it hard to get out of bed, let alone take care of yourself. This can lead to dangerous behaviors, such as not eating or sleeping and not getting regular exercise. Also, the physical symptoms of depression, such as fatigue and aches and pains, can make it difficult to exercise or even to get out of bed.
7. Faking happy can seem very fake and difficult
Depression can make you feel like you’re putting on a facade when you interact with others. When you smile, it can feel like you’re wearing a mask. After all, it can be hard to keep up a happy act when you’re not feeling it inside. This is one of the reasons depression can be so isolating. When you’re depressed, it can feel like you’re the only one in the world who isn’t happy, and that can be a very lonely feeling.
8. Thoughts of self harm don’t seem irrational when you’re depressed
For people who are not depressed, harming themselves may seem unthinkable. But for those dealing with depression, thoughts of self-harm can seem quite rational. This is because depression can distort your thinking, making you believe that harming yourself is the only way to stop the pain, which is why it’s important to seek out support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy that can challenge this pattern of thinking.
