Feeling Nothing*

Okay people. Let's talk something a little more challenging. Let's talk mental health.

Mental Health is the most highly stigmatized group of disorders out there. I know, we don't like to talk about it. It's tough, it's weird, it's beyond what we understand. But it needs to be talked about, because there are people out there, people who seem perfectly happy, who are struggling with something far bigger than themselves. Mental Illness is a monster. But there is hope, there is help.

There are a few categories of mental health disorders, but I'm gonna talk specifically mood disorders, and again, specifically depression. Depression is more than just being sad sometimes. It is a persistent, nagging, deep feeling of nothingness that can last for long periods of time. Sometimes it comes in bursts, silent moments of pure sadness that hit us for no reason. The consequences are ruthless. Lethargy takes over, motivation disappears, and relationships are challenged. Life in general can sometimes feel too painful or difficult to even gather the strength to even get out of bed.


The official symptoms include:

• Sadness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
• Change in weight (This is a secondary side effect/symptom, as the depression can either increase or decrease your appetite, leading to a change in weight)
  
• Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
• Energy loss (part of over/undersleeping)
  
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Causes include genetic, environmental, psychological, and biochemical factors

• It's complicated. As simply put as possible, depression is caused by hormone imbalances in the brain and body. These tendencies are genetically inclined, resulting in common family histories of mental illness. Environmental causes usually refer to the incidences in people's lives that result in occurrence and/or relapse.

Treatments:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, an awareness approach, intended on keeping patients mindful of their thoughts, behaviors, and reactions
• Talk therapy; talking is important. Support is huge. Groups and therapies are available
  
• Antidepressants, or antianxiety meds. These are patient/experience specific. A prescription is needed, so PLEASE talk to a doctor if this is you.
• ALSO. Do not self medicate. This is big. Many people will not know how to deal with the sadness, so they will turn to alcohol, illegal drugs, or OTC drugs. This is a whole new topic, but it is so sad when someone hurts so much that they refuse or do not know how to get help.
  

In the meantime:

Depression is all about feelings. People with untreated depression hurt deeply, often for no logical reason whatsoever. What is so important to remember, is that depression is so much stronger than simple willpower. It is something we should not be ashamed of, and the people who are hurting NEED support. We need to be able to talk about this, because talking about the monster under the bed keeps him away, even for a little while. There is no shame in getting help, because if that's what it takes to get your life back, then get your life back.

If you are hurting, PLEASE get help. Talk to people. Talk to a doctor.

There is help. There is hope.