What is Depression?
Nearly 15 million Americans struggle with depression. This is not an uncommon mood disorder. It can interfere with concentration, motivation, and other aspects of everyday life. It involves moods, thoughts, and the body itself, and can manifest in many different ways.
What if I have depression?
Depression is a highly treatable disorder. Often, depression and its sub-forms works in cycles, and is easily treatable to prevent or affect recurring episodes.
I don’t have depression – but I don’t get it.
That is totally all right! Depression can be hard to understand sometimes. It is a disorder that affects a person as a whole, but is nearly invisible to an outside perspective. When considering depression, keep a few things in mind. (1) It isn’t sadness. It is more a lack of emotion entirely, which is what leads to the lack of desire to participate in events and activities. (2) It is common. Your friends or family members are not strange for having depression. 15 million other people do, too. (3) You don’t just get over it. Depression is not just something that you can decide you’re done with. In this way, it’s just like a normal illness – you have to recover.
Hands-On Information
Check out this short game called Elude. It is interesting, compelling, and very intricate. It illustrates well the basic experience of a person with depression.
More Resources…
- http://www.undoingdepression.com
Good, self-help advice on learning how to “live well”. This covers many aspects of depression – changing negative thinking, assertive communication, overcoming procrastination, practicing joy, relaxation techniques, etc. - http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
The mission of this website is to provide immediate assistance to individuals in suicidal crisis by connecting them to the nearest available suicide prevention and mental health service provider.
Sources: Psychology Today
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