Clinical Depression
Depression is a word thrown around these days which I believe is misunderstood. It is a stigma that must be shed light on. First of all, I believe the very definition of Depression versus Clinical Depression should be explained and destigmatized. Clinical depression is defined to be a lifelong condition and is technically a disability, you can be PWD or person with a disability. Depression is crippling, it can lead to intrusive, suicidal thoughts. Clinical Depression can suck all your energy out of you and feel like a black hole that’s ready to engulf you. Theres a tendency to “ruminate” past traumas over and over like a broken record. When it worsens, you stop eating, stop showering and stop doing all the things you love to do. You lie awake night after night with insomnia. It is a silent killer, and many suffer alone, helpless, and even smiling at social situations feeling lonely around others. For a person’s Depression to become Clinical Depression, it’s important to first have a diagnosis with a licensed Psychiatrist or Psychologist. Then it becomes properly “Clinical Depression” and you may or may not have medication for your condition. Some medication I can name at the tip of my tongue is Prozac, Lexapro and Zoloft. The common side effects of anti depressants are grogginess, feeling numb in your face, brain fog, and drowsiness. Those who struggle with Clinical Depression struggle with weaning of medications, going back and forth mental breakdowns, psychotic breaks and if severe, hallucinations and psychosis. There is a spectrum of severity for Clinical Depression, it’s important to remember not everyone’s condition is the same. Some do have it worse, and some easily bounce back. However, we shouldn’t also compare one person’s suffering with another’s less severe diagnosis. The best thing we can do for someone who is Clinically depressed or even “depressed” with no diagnosis and who is suicidal is to refer them to a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist. Educated professionals know the right treatment, proper words to say and how to administer psychological first aid. Not everyone knows how to administer psychological first aid to others, which is why there are suicide hotlines. When someone shows signs of suicide, the words you say can be the life or death of the person. This is why empathy is so important.
Undiagnosed “Depression” on the other hand, is usually just a feeling passing through. It lasts a few days and months if you are grieving. It is extremely offensive in my opinion, to belittle a person’s Clinical Depression and compare it to just mere Depression. Clinical Depression is very serious, and must be treated with a psychologist or psychiatrist. You aren’t supposed to be drinking alcohol, or do recreational drugs when you have a mental health condition like Clinical Depression. It’s important to be properly diagnosed with Clinical Depression so you can heal properly and not keep relapsing into a toxic cycle of self medication, clinical depression and an unhealthy lifestyle.
As you can see, Clinical Depression can be life threatening and lead to Suicide with a person. And based on experience, suicide occurs from lack of information on Clinical Depression vs. Suicide. Friends and family unknowingly try to relate their own “sadness” or depression to that of a person with Clinical Depression and not be aware they are painfully invalidating to someone’s suffering. The number of times I’ve been invalidated from my own deep loneliness and sadness is plenty. I’ve learned to not take it personal. It’s a fact that not many people are educated on Mental Health. When you meet someone new, you can tell a lot of their level of education on mental health by the way they think and judge you or others with a mental health condition. Older individuals like Millennials and Boomers, think Clinical Depression isn’t real or can be “partied” or drunken away. It’s shameful and must be hidden away, or swept under the rug. Older generations think mental health is a weakness. The Gen Z individuals I’ve met and befriended, however are the most aware generation. Bipolar Disorder, Clinical Depression, Suicide and eating disorders etc. you name it, they are aware and will validate you. Therapy is commonplace for them, often triggered by Social Media and cyberbullying. Mental Health is here to stay and is in fact getting worse as seen in the pandemic. It’s seeping into the younger generations and our children. Thankfully, there is already more awareness, like a classes on Mental Health in some progressive and international schools and Universities. This a huge stride forward for ending the Stigma on Mental Health
Some things you can do for someone who is struggling or depressive I learned is just to listen with empathy, give thoughtful gifts once in a while and check on them. A lot of people don’t know how to listen or how to hold space for their own family and friends. Sometimes people just want to be heard, to be vulnerable and to be loved. One of my best friends I haven’t seen for 3 years due to her severe Depression. I often just drop gifts or food on holidays and birthdays and it is extremely painful for me. Clinical Depression and mental illness hurts not only yourself, but your family and close friends as well. I have a theory that when you get clinically depressed or feel hurt, your loved ones absorb the emotions as well. Loved ones get depressive as well, seeing family or friends suffering. It’s important to be strong, but it’s also important to know how to vulnerable and to get help. If you don’t heal yourself, you will bleed on everyone that loves you.
“Depression isn’t just about being sad, it’s about not wanting to be alive anymore” - JK Rowling