on depression

(This article was inspired by a blog friend who is wondering...)


Depression has affected most of the creative people in this world and makes no exceptions as noone is immune to depression. Statistics indicate that 1 in 4 might suffer from depression at one point in their lives. It is true that the term depression really does not say much about what a person goes through and can not describe the severity or intensity of the symptoms.This is why psychologists talk about different types of depression: mild depression, moderate and severe.

The warning signs of depression are feelings of hopelessness,loss of interest or pleasure, insomnia or excessive sleep,fatigue, suicidal ideation, anxious or empty mood, irritability, changes in weight or appetite e.t.c
This does not mean that anyone that has these symptoms is depressed as they need to be persistent for a month at least 5 of these symptoms, to be present most of the day and to affect the quality of life of an individual.
Really the best thing when recognising these symptoms is getting some support, usually those with severe depression tend to ask more commonly for help as the ones with mild depression often think that it will pass without support or that there is nothing wrong and usually they don't look depressed so other people don't get alarmed.

I think it is a shame when people view the term depression as a stigma as it can happen to anyone, there comes a time that coping is too difficult and there is nothing wrong with asking for a little help.It is worse suffering in silence. As I said before many great thinkers, wonderful personalities have suffered from depression...Does this mean that they are not strong or important?

Of course not!!

(image by krecha)