Depression in Daily Life

So many people in our everyday lives suffer from issues we don't even know about. Maybe your coworker lost their parent or sibling and it is destroying them on the inside. Even after such an awful thing happens it is probably still difficult for a person to see they are not doing very well. A person can be extroverted and always be the life of the party but, maybe behind closed doors they cry their eyes out. The coworker you truly know nothing about could be contemplating suicide because of personal issues that cause them to stay awake all night. Yet, this same person continues to go to work every morning and acts as if everything is okay.

Many people assume depression is just feeling "sad", but there is a lot more to it than just sadness. Not every disabled person uses a wheelchair, some disabilities are not even visible. If you cannot see how a person feels on the inside you should not try to make them "prove it". Most people that are severely depressed are the last people you would expect to have a mental health issue. They themselves know how they feel and face the ongoing battle everyday. Sometimes depression feels like a battle that can't be won. Even if you can't see how a person feels on the outside doesn't mean they're not dying on the inside.

For instance, I have heard many stories about my late aunt and many of them were very positive memories. My aunt passed away when I was one due to suicide. She was a biology major who seemed like an extremely happy and sociable woman with lots of friends. The truth that no one saw that was probably eating her alive everyday is she was clinically depressed. I am only going on the the age of 24 and my aunt passed away when she was 20. If you do the math I have already lived about four more years longer than she did. The question many people probably ask themselves is, "Why did this happen?". To many a depressed individual can appear to be fine but, maybe in reality they are slowly losing hope on the inside. It is important to see what a person is really feeling. Sure, we can't read each other's minds but, at least listen to what a person is trying to say and what feelings they are trying to express. Be an ear to listen because if not, they could be gone tomorrow. We never know the outcome of what will happen or how things will end.

Depression cannot just be fixed by "being positive", anxiety cannot be fixed by just "staying calm" and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) cannot just be fixed by "forgetting about it". If a person has been through a traumatic experience they should not just be judged, they should be supported and heard so they can get the help they need. People should not be afraid to go to a therapist over fear of judgement from others.

A person should not ask, "What is wrong with you?" but instead, they should be considerate about what happened to make you feel this way. Depression is not just sadness. Depression is going through a traumatic experience, being overworked, being abused and neglected, being stressed and feeling hopeless. It is a thing no one truly understands. People that say things such as, "We all go through this" don't know what they mean. Most people who try to be supportive person don't know how to be a true support in a positive way to others and don't know what they are trying to help a person with. A lot of people don't truly understand how a person feels or what they have gone through.

My point throughout this article is mental health is not taken seriously and it needs to be! If someone in your life seems upset try to ask them why and be there for them. Listen to what they have to say before you just give cliche' advice. Mental health matters and people who seem happy on the outside may be suffering on the inside. The next time you are about to judge a person, consider what I have said and maybe try to think of what their life is like or what they could be going through. Mental health matters and so do the many people who suffer from it. Please take it seriously.