If you are one of those who never experienced depression then I couldn't envy you more. Some people can't even fathom the idea of such profound inner darkness. But to me, and so many others, it's just another way of life - and too often another way to die.
Depression isn't just about sadness and even those who suffer are often blind to their own condition. If you're observant enough to notice the change in you and your perception of the world, you'll soon realize just how helpless you really are. The lack of life and inspiration in your ever resting bones will be both comforting and emotionally painful. "Why do I feel this way? I shouldn't feel like this!" begins to echo in your head day after day. Smile and laughter become rare luxuries you can rarely afford. But why?
It drives me absolutely crazy how little we know about our own brain. In the age of incredible technological and scientific progress we still can't cure our own sadness. The medical community acts according to superficial and often ineffective guidelines passing a patient over from one referral service to another. We are fed mind altering drugs that we so desperately need yet no one teaches us how to build a positive life or even mentions resilience skills. The drugs themselves will not do everything. We are left alone in the darkness. We slip through the cracks of the system that views mental health patients just like the rest of the world does - unimportant.
The lack of desire for life and the pain that follows is bad enough - but the lack of adequate support and effective treatments is just unbelievable. Throwing bunch of pills on the wall and seeing what sticks is not enough. Leaving your patients to fight for themselves when they barely have enough energy to get out of bed is not OK. When will the medical community wake up?! People with depression slowly lose everything including themselves. And you don't even notice...
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