Depression is one of the social
issues that a lot of people nowadays face- and it needs to be addressed before
it gets worse. Sometimes people are not aware that they are depressed, or they
hide it very well. Hopefully this post will help you understand depression
better- the signs, how to deal with it and how to help others with depression.
The reason I decided to write
about depression is because I think it’s an important issue that people need to
be aware of. Especially young people like us who are just starting our adult
lives and the pressure of having to succeed and do well for our future is
sometimes just too much. A lot of things contribute to depression- family,
friends, money.
Not everyone is fortunate enough
to have a family who can provide them the love and care that they need. Some
people grew up in a broken family, and they lack support while they were
growing up. This can contribute to depression when they feel like they have
nobody to support them. Sometimes, the pressure that their family puts on them
also leads to depression. For example, the family expects them to do really
well and be really successful and they feel too pressured.
Friends (or the lack of them) can
also contribute to depression. Young people have the need to feel belonged, they
need to have someone in their life that they can talk to and share their
problems with. So, when they feel like they are isolated/rejected from the
people they want to be friends with, it could lead to depression.
Another factor that can lead to
depression is money (which I think is the biggest factor that contributes to
depression), especially in today’s world where having money is really
important. This is one of the problems that young people face- not having
enough money to pay their tuition fees, rent, gas, or even to pay for their
meals. When young people think too much about not having enough money, they get
depressed. And when these young people finish their studies and start working,
they have to worry about paying back their student loans as well as buying a
car/house, getting married and starting their own family.
I’ve read some articles on this
topic, and they have provided many signs that show a person is/could be
depressed. I hope these signs could help you/or help someone who are facing
this problem. The signs are:
- Sadness or hopelessness
- Irritability, anger, or hostility
- Tearfulness or frequent crying
- Withdrawal from friends and family
- Loss of interest in activities
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- Restlessness and agitation
- Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
- Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
- Fatigue or lack of energy
- Difficulty concentrating
- Thoughts of death or suicide
(taken from http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_teen.htm)
If you noticed these signs on someone you know, or if you think you have
these signs, then please make sure that you get them/yourself help. These signs
are not solid and sometimes people who are not depressed don’t feel like eating
or eat too much. However, most of the time you can tell if it’s a sign of
depression if you know something is going on in their life or your own life. If
this is the case, then get help as soon as possible. It is very crucial that it
is dealt with before it gets too severe and worse things such as suicide
happens.
There are many ways to help with depression. One of the ways is by
listening them- just listen to what they have to say and how they are feeling.
Sometimes they just need to let it out and have someone to listen. Let them
know that you are there for them and mean it. Give them the support that they
need and let ensure them that the problems that they faced are can be solved. If
you think that the depression is severe and you are not able to help them, then
make sure you find someone who can. Ask them to seek professional help and
support them through it. You never know the change you can make by just being
there for someone.
If you feel that you are depressed, do not keep it to yourself. Find
someone you trust to talk about it. If you feel like you have no one to talk
to, seek a professional. Just make sure you do something about it before it
gets out of hand...
Hopefully this provides you with some information about depression. If
you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to write in the comment box. It
would be really nice if we could exchange thoughts about this- maybe it will
help someone who has depression.
That’s all for now.
