It is a phenomenon that can affect anyone. It is a problem even in countries with high standards of living. It is so widespread, yet so commonly misunderstood at the same time. It is depression. To see someone suffering from it is one thing, but to actually it experience is a completely different story.
Every day hundreds of choices are making their demands. Whether it is school, work, or family, people are often required to pay attention to many details at once. Most of the time, we are so busy with living our lives and making decisions to the point where we have little time to take care of ourselves. And even if our demands are few, freedom can also limit the amount of time we have to look after ourselves. Having too much freedom can result in us having too many places to go, and consequently we are unable to go anywhere because we have too many choices. It should come as no surprise that the abundance of paths we have can overwhelm our well-being. Problems begin mounting to the point where it begins interfering with our daily functions, reducing productivity and the joygained from hobbies.
There are several reasons why I believe depression is so often misunderstood. The first reason is that to the average person, a person that is visibly upset is simply going through a phase and will eventually overcome it. Some will even say things along the lines of “that person has no reason to be unhappy, just look at how lucky they are compared to those people in third world countries”. Such a judgement is, in my opinion, rather premature and uncalled for. Many people fail to understand the gravity of the condition and what that individual is going through. We often do not know about the individual’s background and history, nor was the comparison a fair one. The assumption is that things are going to be fine, but nothing fixes itself without assistance.
Another reason why depression is often downplayed is the sheer abundance of information that we have to deal with. Media often promises magical fixes to our problems and the news reports events from around the world. While not too long ago news often spread through word of mouth or physical media, the rise of the internet has allowed us to learn about events from across the globe in a matter of seconds. The problem with information being everywhere is that there is little consensus. It can be argued that there is no absolute truth since truth is merely a matter of perspective. As a result, it becomes difficult for people to seek the help they need. Papers are often checked thoroughly before being published, but posting information on a website has no such requirement.
Finally, the “survival of the fittest” mantra of society has not helped less fortunate individuals. While the saying is generally true, the problem is that it causes individuals themselves to downplay or hide their problems. In a 2008 survey conducted by Depression Alliance 79% of respondents felt that revealing their problems at school or work would be detrimental to them. Additionally, 37% of respondents felt that help was seldom or not available when they needed it. Common symptoms reported included anxiety, loss of interest, low energy and concentration, and poor sleep.
The impact of depression is actually much deeper than we think it is. When we are only looking out for ourselves, it’s easy to miss these little nuances that people give off. If someone is in need of help, try to do your best to reassure them. Everyone has potential; some people just need a little help to attain it.
Leave a Reply