IS DEPRESSION REAL? A PSYCHOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE.

Is Depression real??

Let me tell you Anil’s story: Life was just bleak. One of the most difficult experiences that come with depression is the experience of self-persecution. His mom was instrumental in helping him come out of depression.?

Anil was diagnosed with depression and at the same time was also struggling with his relationship, his work, and himself. At first, he was very defensive, he could not accept it. He blocked off the reactions of other people. He was not able to function. He did not want to leave the house and he felt going to work was a struggle. Sleeping, thinking, and speaking were a big struggle for him. He became so annoying that he used to ask his mother for reassurance that he was not a bad person. Early in the morning every day, he would text his mother and ask for forgiveness.?

Depression was slowly eating him up and he gave them permission. It was very difficult to experience being put down by one’s self. The denial comes with the stigma that society associates with depression.?

So, is depression real? The answer is YES, depression is very much real. It is important for the person going through depression to be able to talk to others. It will help them understand what is happening within.?

It is only temporary. Embracing depression completely can be a life-changing experience. It is a great realization and it is liberating.?

It does not matter whether your family is rich or well-educated. Any family that can face depression can overcome it if they just stick together.?

Remembering that life is beautiful is essential but life is beautifully complicated. It is not easy for any of us. One should be lovingly supportive of the process and just treat the depressed person as a person who is going through a process.?

Another form of depression that is hidden is high functioning depression.

So, what is High functioning depression, and is High functioning depression real?

It is not a mental disorder. It is a term used in popular culture to describe symptoms of depression that have a minimal effect on the functioning of work, school, or social activities.?

It is an analogist to an old mental disorder called Dysthymia.?

The term “high-function” depression comes with a lot of problems. Is High Functioning Depression real or not is explained further:

Signs of High Functioning Depression?

1. Lack of energy or fatigue-Major depressive disorder is often characterized by the inability to get out of bed. The simple idea of getting out of bed, showering, or facing the world is a lot for someone with depression to handle. This also occurs in mild depression. Someone with mild depression may be able to get out of bed but for them, it takes lots of energy and effort on their part. These big tasks eventually wear on someone leaving little energy for other activities that they might normally enjoy like hobbies, passion, and time out with friends.

1. Feelings of hopelessness, worry, or guilt- Someone with high functioning depression may be so focused on thinking about their worries or guilt. From the moment they wake up, the person may feel guilty about how little they are getting done. They may worry that they are not good enough, they may feel not worthy, and that nothing they could do that can change the world or make their lives with friends or family any better. These feelings are exhausting when that is all running through your head.?

1. Difficulty concentrating or focussing-if you wake up with worry or guilt, it could be really difficult to focus on anything else. Someone with high functioning depression may be obligated to their job by completing it to the best of their ability is not so easy. They may try to focus on a project but they cannot. This leads to even more guilt and worry which makes it even more difficult to focus. In the end, it is an unfortunate spiral that continues until the person takes action. The actions may include meditation, healthy coping mechanisms or mindfulness practice and especially reaching out to a professional.?

1. Irritability-Depression is not only expressed through sadness. Someone can be extremely irritable as a way to mask these feelings of guilt, frustration, or worry that they may be experiencing. In many such cases, depression is often overlooked in people who are just irritable. When women are irritable, they are often written off as moody yet women are more likely to experience a persistent depressive disorder. Men may not always be classified as irritable, but flashes of intense rage may be a sign that inside they are facing depression or serious anxiety.

1. Excessive Drinking, exercise, or other unhealthy coping mechanisms- Another way of masking those feelings of guilt or worry is to resort to unhealthy coping mechanisms. Substance abuse and depression are often linked. Someone may also resort to excessive exercise, overeating, or undereating and a common sign is quick fluctuations in weight, sudden weight loss, or weight gain. These are all signs that someone may be experiencing a form of depression.

So, what do you do if you experience these signs? How real is depression?

1. You can and should seek some form of treatment because although mild depressive disorder does not sound as serious as major depressive disorder, it should not be overlooked. “High-functioning” depression can still hold the person back from enjoying their life and reaching their full potential. Fortunately, there are ways for people with “high-functioning” depression to overcome symptoms and live a happy better life. Healthy coping mechanisms can replace unhealthy ones. One of the best things is a regular appointment with a therapist or a professional who can give someone the tools and skills necessary to alleviate the feelings of guilt or worry and look into them. There are also medications and other forms of treatment that are also available.

Psychiatrists say that “High-functioning” depression is becoming prevalent. People with the condition can mask it and lead seemingly normal and healthy lives.

Is depression a real thing??

Let us look at the story of Pooja and Rhea.

Pooja says, “It is not something where you can cure and say okay, I am fully cured of depression and I am going to live the rest of my life feeling normal. It is not like chicken pox. You do not get immunity from getting depression one time. You can do certain things to keep yourself away from triggers. Anything can be triggered. Your friends, any place, or even songs can be triggers. I took up hiking. I travel as much as I can. When I started exploring things like these, triggers became a lot less frequent. People see me as this really happy person who lives life by going on hiking, doing yoga, etc. But honestly, I just feel like a ghost. Just someone who is wandering around, who is trying to figure her way out through life. Depression does have days of sadness. You just really feel down. You do not have the mood to do anything. But most of the days, I make an effort to make myself happy. When I am happy, I am dancing, I am at the top of the game but I am at the edge of the cliff. There are situations where I accidentally fall off the cliff and never land.”

Rhea says, “I have been taking medications regularly. It helps to elevate my mood then I can function normally like any other person. Knitting is my hobby. Doing knitting is very therapeutic for me because it empties my negative thoughts which is one of the symptoms of bipolar disorder. I still functioned as a normal person. But at the time, I was working like a robot. My mood was not very good, always having negative thoughts. Despite having this condition, I still managed to start up my own business. I am doing an online knitting and crochet business. Let’s say I get a client’s order and they praise me for the neat work that I have done, I feel happy. So, I will not have any negative thoughts along the line. Despite it being the happiest year of my life, you cannot judge my happiness by events like let us say marriage, or buying a house. In the end, I was still diagnosed with these illnesses. These illnesses can happen to anyone at any time in their life.

Do these two stories reflect the answer to the question of is depression real? The answer to it would be Yes, pretty much.?

To conclude, people with depression experience, for at least two weeks, persistent sadness, and a loss of interest in once enjoyable activities. They can also experience guilt, hopelessness, loss of energy, lack of concentration, and disturbed sleep and appetite.?

Depression affects over 300 million people worldwide. Many of them do not ask for help out of fear, shame, and a lack of understanding. With the appropriate treatment and support, people with depression can recover and lead productive lives. Seek help and break the stigma.

Feel free to?reach out to us ?for counseling and psychotherapy sessions from our trained psychologists, and psychotherapists.