DEPRESSION

WARNING

This post doesn’t involve any triggering pictures or content but it does talk about depression and I feel that I need to warn you guys so proceed with caution. This post is made to make people understand what depression is and how to handle it the RIGHT way and what not to do.

What Is Depression?

On paper depression is pretty easy to define, it’s literally one google search away and in fact according to google, depression is when you go through feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. While that definition may be true it doesn’t really tell us anything at all about what depression is and how it manifests into our lives.

Many people are under this misconception that depression always stays the same and it comes and goes but that’s just simply not true. Depression is like a virus, it changes and shapeshifts to ensure it’s own survival. One month it will be drizzling, the sun will be shining and you’ll see a colorful rainbow in the distance but the next it’s a full on storm with a tornado and a tsunami all coming at you from all directions. It’s always there just showing itself in a different way.

IT IS NOT A PHASE!!!

“Depression doesn’t just come and go it’s there”

Never be under the impression that you are just fighting Depression. Depression has a lot of allies and they are always invited to Depression’s battles.You’ll quickly find that when you are fighting against Depression you also have to deal with social anxiety or anxiety in general, insomnia and finally dangerous thoughts of self-harm or committing suicide.

“Being depressed doesn’t mean you’ve given up on life”

Depression is not a choice and people suffering with depression are always trying their hardest to get back up and always trying to live their lives. They don’t want to constantly have to feel ashamed of their depression just because society doesn’t understand them.

DEPRESSION DOES NOT DEFINE THEM!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes just knowing they have someone to talk to makes all the difference.

Living With Depression

At first you struggle with little everyday tasks but you usually just ignore it. It’s like the flu, you tell yourself it’s only for a few weeks or it’s just one of those days but it’s not. You’re trapped in this state of being and you put on this facade or wall around you and continue living your life because it’ what you have to do.

It’s what normal people do.

Unfortunately the problem does not go away and you try to put on a smile everyday but it starts to weigh down on you more and more. That’s why you start drowning faster and faster and you start to cut off ties from friends and family and completely shutting them out.

All hope is gone and the small things that used to make you smile are absolutely worthless. Even the smallest activities become painful and that’s when you lack motivation and why would you keep on trying if nothing makes you happy anyway. Everything makes you feel even worse until you find yourself living in never ending days and infinite weeks. You feel as though you will never experience joy again.

There is a part of you that is constantly trying to get your life back to a time where happiness was an everyday emotion but it never lasts against depression.

You finally realize things can’t go on this way and there are two options. You decide to get some help or commit suicide

Please choose the first option.

Why It’s Important To The LGBTQ+ Community

It’s no secret that if you are part of the LGBTQ+ community you have a higher chance of having depression. Most people use this fact as a way to prove that being queer is a mental illness and i’m here to tell you that it’s not. The problem isn’t us, it’s society.

We live in a world where being who we are could lead to being disowned by our families, abused in school and maybe even killed. We live in a world where expressing who you are is a sin and people are more worried about other people’s sexualities and genders instead of the real problems of the world. We live in a world where a president can speak out about taking rights away from other people and not even be punished or looked down on for saying it. We live in a world of hateful people, we live in a world of extremists, we live in a world of homophobes and we live in a world of human nature.

Because of the harsh world we live in, we are more at risk of becoming depressed than the average human being. We are in a community full of people just like us and who understand us and I am begging you to please keep watch. Look at what people are posting and when you see a cry for help, don’t ignore it.

Help!!!

If society can’t look out for us then we need to look out for each other.

Please, I am begging you. Open your eyes and be aware of the things people are posting or saying around you, You could save a life.

How To Help Someone With Depression?

The first thing for you to always do is keep watch and know the symptoms of depression so they don’t slip by you. Here’s a link to a video that tells you about all the symptoms.

Although your loved ones suffering from depression may push you away, it’s important that you are always there for them even when life gets extra hard. It makes all the difference for them knowing that someone cares.

One

You can help them with them with their everyday responsibilities that they would usually have to do alone. Whether it’s helping them with their homework or doing their laundry for them. By helping them you take a huge weight off of their shoulders and decrease the chances of them being overwhelmed and stressed. It also helps give a calmer and healthier environment.

Two

Take a walk with them barefoot. I know it sounds stupid but just hear me out. For a depressed person it is extremely beneficial to go outside in the sun. It will increase vitamin D and could possibly help alleviate depression.Not to forget that walking in soil could actually act as an anti-depressent because theres a strain of bacterium in soil that triggers the release of serotonin which elevates mood and decrease anxiety. So go to the beach with them for a day.

Three

Ensure that they don’t forget about self-care. Depressed people sometimes stop thinking about hygiene and their health because they feel like they don’t deserve it. If their self care goes unchecked it can easily develop into feelings of worthlessness .

Four

Compliment them. People suffering from depression tend to have very low self-esteem. By giving them a specific compliment about them that makes them challenge their self-loathingness. Be specific and genuine because they are more likely to rememer that than meaningless flattery.

Five

Ask them to help you understand what their feeling. It won’t only help you understand your friend better but it will also give insight into a plan of action or recovery. It will also help them realise that their not as alone as they think they are.

Six

Always encourage them to seek professional help.

What NOT To Do To Someone With Depression?

One

Make it about you

•I Know Exactly how you feel•

•Yesterday I failed maths so I can relate•

~Stop trying to compare your feelings to theirs because it’s two different situations. Just listen to them and put them first.~

Two

Minimize their mental Illness

•But you always seem so happy•

•Everyone gets depressed, we all have our bad days•

•Are you sure it’s not just a phase•

~Comments like these honestly show that you don’t understand what depression is. It makes people who have depression feel like you don’t understand them and they are completely alone in the world. It’s exactly like someone asking if your sexuality is just a phase.~

Three

Make them feel guilty

•There are starving children in Africa•

•You have it so easy•

•Your life is basically perfect•

~These comments are so harmful because they make depressed people feel guilty for not being mentally healthy. Many depressed people recognise that their lives are more privileged than others and not having a specific reason for being depressed makes them feel even worse~

Four

Telling them how to fix their depression

•Try not to be so negative, just focus on the positive•

•Have you tried eating healthy, exercise and socializing•

~The problem with this is that it treats symptoms of depression like it’s the main problem. Almost like telling someone with a brain tumor, have they not tried stopping the migraines. Also with depression doing simple tasks like this is extremely hard and instead of telling them what to do, you should be encouraging them and taking it step by step together.~

Five

Commenting on everything they are doing wrong

•Why do you sleep so late•

•Your room is extremely messy•

•You’re not eating enough•

~Unlike other mental illnesses, people with depression are aware of everything that they aren’t doing right and you pointing it out makes them feel like you’re there to judge them and not them.~

Six

Blame them for their depression

•Happiness is a choice•

•You’re ust eing lazy•

•You’re using your depression as an excuse not to do things•

~The problem with this is depressed people already blame themselves for eing depressed in the first place. When you say things like this it’s like telling them to suck it up and get over it. You wouldn’t tell someone with a broken leg to just walk it off so why is mental illness any different.~

Don’t give them advice!!!

***Also be very careful because sometimes mental illnesses can be contagious and you need to ensure that you are protecting yourself while you are trying to help your friends and Loved Ones.***

Hope you guys enjoyed this article type thing and take everything I’ve said to heart. If you have any other advice on what to do and what not to do please comment it down below. We are all here to learn from each other because we have to simply look out for our own. I’m going to be posting a video below which I think explains depression really well and I’m going to be linking some helpful websites if you are depressed.

You can always come talk to me.

This is a video I feel explains depression better than I ever could.

Links

Life line

Online Therapy

Mind.org

Mental health foundation

Samaritans

Numbers To Call

Lifeline: 13 11 14

Beyondblue: 1300 224 636

Suicide Prevention Line: 1-800-273-8255

We need to look out for each other because this disease, this virus is taking lives every day🏳‍ :rainbow:

Please don’t forget to share this post because depression is something that should always be spoken about and never forgotten.

If you have any issues to do with the LGBTQ+ community please comment them down below so I can do more research and write about it :heart: :heart: .

Anti-Stacey Out :high_brightness: :fire:

#curatorreview

#MentalAwarenessChall