A common misconception about depression is that it’s equivalent to feeling sad. While that might be true to some extent, it is an oversimplification of a mental condition that nearly 264 million people suffer from worldwide.
Sadness is a human emotion and no one is immune to feeling down. Depression, on the other hand, is a mental condition characterized by an overwhelming feeling of sadness and manifests as a lack of energy, hope, and drive.
Depression is graded based on the Zung Scale between 20-80. However, the jury’s still out on the validity of self-diagnosing depression. One thing’s for sure: depression is grossly misunderstood and therefore inadequately dealt with.
Given the current situation, people have had to isolate themselves within the confines of their homes. What seemed like a temporary situation is quickly morphing into the new ‘normal’ – or at least so for some time.
Identify Your Condition
Ask Someone You Know
The first step on the road to recovery is identifying and then admitting that you indeed need help. In this case, it might seem difficult to identify depression all on your own. If you have anyone close in your life whom you trust you could ask them to help you in identifying recent shifts in your personality.
General Checklist
If not, go over the following checklist:
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Do you feel lethargic?
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Do you feel exhausted all the time?
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Have you been neglecting personal hygiene?
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Have you been neglecting taking care of your home?
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Do you find it difficult to get out of bed in the morning?
Again, the jury’s still out on the validity of self-diagnosing a mental condition. However, given the current situation and the fact that most of what’s listed above is concerning, it might be enough to give you some insight. At the very least, you will be able to recognize the fact that there has been a shift in your personality lately and that you do need help.
Reach Out
Professional Help
After having identified the condition, the next probable step is to reach out to a professional. Ideally, you should only seek professional advice in treating your condition. However, some people are either skeptical of professional help or unaware of the extent of their condition and need an extra boost.
Friends and Family
Start by reaching out to your friends or family. Reach out to someone you can trust and someone whom you’ve known to be sympathetic in the past. Someone who’s either unaware or ignorant about depression might worsen your condition – making it counterintuitive to reach out to them.
Helplines
Depression might have been disregarded as feelings of overwhelming sadness in the past, but people nowadays are becoming increasingly aware and sympathetic of the condition.
This has led to the creation of numerous depression helplines and support groups. People on the other end are people who are aware and sympathetic towards your condition and therefore try their best to help you either come out of these feelings or limit them till you seek professional help.
Conclusion
In conclusion, depression is not to be taken lightly. It is a mental condition and can manifest in several forms. The condition is grossly misunderstood and therefore most advice on ‘treating’ it turns out to be counterintuitive.
If you or someone you know is dealing with depression, seek help immediately.
