As with several mental illnesses, depression is an invisible disease. Apart from feeling lost or numb frequently, depression feels as if a physical weight is holding you underwater. It is a constant battle against yourself. Because of the isolation that comes with mental illnesses, it can be very tough for an individual to reach out.
Those who suffer from depression often feel ashamed, weak, or that they don’t deserve help because their life “is not that bad.” This is a typical but dangerous mindset, as it pushes people further into isolation and prevents them from seeking the help that they really need and deserve. Depression can be caused by various things, from sudden death of a beloved person or significant change to genetics and childhood traumas.
September is observed as National Suicide Awareness Month. A new hashtag, #faceofdepression, emerged in 2017 as an effort to raise awareness regarding how easy depression is to miss. Depressed people used this hashtag and shared pictures showing what they look like. As the World Health Organization reports, one person commits suicide every 40 seconds. The disease doesn't discriminate between age, religion, or gender. It is a growing global problem. Depression was the 17th leading cause of death in 2015.
The most common signs of depression include constant feelings of helplessness, loss of interest in favorite things, irritability, sudden changes in appetite and sleep patterns, loss of energy, self-loathing, concentration problems and even physical problems such as frequent headaches, stomach aches, and muscle pain.
If you think you may be having depression or know somebody who might be, it is important to reach out. There's never a right or comfortable moment to do that; the time is now.
1. Milly, @selfloveclub, describes how she was told that she “doesn’t look suicidal” by a doctor. Comments like this often invalidate people who suffer from depression and pushes them further and further away from seeking help. It was only after her failed suicide attempt that people started to take her seriously.
2. This picture was shared by Talinda Bentley, not long after Linkin Park frontman, Chester Bennington committed suicide. The image demonstrates how depression might be hiding behind even the broadest smiles, the most loving dads, and successful people.
3. This photo was taken during a father-son day only a few months before a 16-year-old boy killed himself. You'd never be able to tell that the young man is in pain or having suicidal thoughts. His dad now runs a twitter account, @aBrendanThing, to spread the message of mental health awareness in honor of his son.
4. This image shows that no matter how healthy or happy somebody looks, they could still be suffering. We usually can't tell when somebody is suffering from depression until they harm themselves or attempt suicide. The user also notes how people made her feel invalidated about her mental illness because she did not “look suicidal.”
5. This image shows how even with a seemingly lovely home, somebody can still suffer. His mother, who posted the picture, writes that this was taken right before her son went to research how to hang himself properly. Some days later, he lost his life to suicide.
6. Posted by Rayna Gawel, this image features her daughter headed to a daddy-daughter dance. The very next night this eight-year-old attempted suicide but luckily made it to the hospital in time. Today she's learning to defeat her illness, highlighting how depression doesn’t care about age.
7. This photo shows how, even with a family, you can still be depressed. It is often repeated that if you have somebody to love and who loves you, your depression will be cured. That's, unfortunately, a myth, one that must be expelled to open up the conversation indeed.
8. This image also shows us that somebody who is seemingly happy might be suffering in total silence. Taken two weeks before her boyfriend decided to hang himself, you'd never guess the smiling gentleman in the picture was depressed. This once again depicts that being in a relationship isn't enough.
9. This photo by Jessica Woodard explains how medication saved her life and also almost took it. Something to understand about antidepressants is that they're serious drugs, you can't take them casually as you might cause severe damage to your health both mentally and physically.
Instagram/@jessica.woodard.sowards
10. This picture is another example how, even with a kid to pour love into, depression can still try to claim your life. Some women might already be suffering from depression or develop it after having a kid, known as postpartum depression.
11. This photo posted by Danika Ransome demonstrates how easy it is to hide the face of depression. Many assume that people who are depressed will look run down and tired all the time, in reality, that is often not really the case.
12. Another image shows that no matter what is in our life, depression can find a way in. Raising a newborn kid is exhausting and hard work, and it can sometimes trigger underlying mental illness such as depression. Seeking assistance is the best thing you can do for yourself and your kid.
13. This picture highlights how depression can cause drastic weight loss in short periods of time. The woman in this image, Stefanie Reinsch, dropped around 70lbs in a little over a year, an unhealthy amount over a short time. Reinsch explains how depression stole her appetite, causing her to unintentionally starve herself while those around her complimented her weight loss.
14. This photo was taken after the user returned from therapy. After dropping her children off at school, this mother headed to counseling to speak about problems on a deeper level. They can reflect on their change of thinking thanks to the help they receive.
15. This picture, posted by Miss Earth Kristin Chucci, shows that depression can be a lifelong battle. Even at a young age, people can still have a mental illness. A common misconception is that people who “have it all” have no reason to be depressed, again this is a dangerous myth.
16. This young woman, @aubernutter, has a seemingly perfect life. She highlights that this is often a myth. Having depression or an anxiety attack is not always crying on the floor or hiding in your room. It can be found anywhere, including the life of the party.
17. Another post by selfloveclub shows how depression affects lives in other ways. Not only can it make you feel terrible, but it can also inhibit your ability to take care of yourself properly; cooking meals, cleaning your space, personal hygiene, and more.
18. An image depicting what depression looks like is also not accurate. Instagram user @chrissiebm shows us how sometimes you can make it out the door, make it to the party, or that date, only to have depression rear its head and ruin it for us.
19. This photo of a seemingly happy couple would make you think neither suffers from depression. In reality, the woman, Zoe Vanmeter, tried to commit suicide but was found by her family just in time. This is another example of how having a love of those around you is not enough, you must seek professional help.
20. A picture of three friends all looking seemingly happy. You'd never know that a few hours later one of these ladies would attempt suicide. It's essential to reach out to people around you, even if you believe no one will care for the TRUST that people do. Suicide is a tragic permanent solution to what could have been merely a temporary problem.
Reference: Providr
Please please, don't kill yourself. Living is hard, but please, at least let your parents, your lover, your pet or anything else be your reason to keep living. You don't need to be a great person, you don't need to be successful, you don't need to be a genius at school... please, find someone to talk.
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