You live by routine. You get up, have a cup of coffee, a bowl of cereal. You head to work. You come home. You eat, you brush your teeth, you go to bed. Life in the commas may vary, but by and large that's what you do each day. Then slowly you start to notice changes you can't seem to control. You're irritable. You're thirsty all the time. You start carrying water bottles everywhere. You start to pee like a racehorse before the derby. You drink less water. You have to wake up at night to pee. You don't feel right. You're tired from waking up to pee, so you drink more coffee. You have trouble eating. You ask your friends, your relatives, they tell you to drink less, or drink more, get more exercise, get more sunlight, relax. Weeks later you still feel poorly, you know something isn't quite right. You look fine to them, but you don't feel right. Finally, you head to the doctor. Your friends and family roll their eyes because you always tend to--gasp--go to the doctor when you're sick. You are just another hypocondriact. The doctor, on the other hand, tells you you're not fine. In fact, he gives you a one way ticket to the hospital and tells you you'll be there a while. Why? Your blood sugar is so high that you'll stroke out if you so much as sniff a candy bar from 50 feet. You have Type I Diabetes. That's why you don't feel okay. You're scared, but you feel better knowing what's going on. It's not in your head, you aren't overreacting. This is real. This is serious. Your family and friends show up to the hospital concerned. They feel terrible for not believing you. They tell stories of how other people had similar symptoms and were fine. They didn't mean to discourage you from getting help. They are wonderful about it now. They read up on Diabetes just like you do. They ask you about your insulin. They even change the contents of their own pantries so they'll be sure to have the right things on hand when you are around. They even join the local Diabetes walk in support of you. They understand your condition and will help you through it every step of the way....
... This is not how it works with Depression. The first steps are very similar. You don't feel right, you know something is off. No one seems to get it, but finally, hopefully, you get checked out. You get a diagnosis. You are scared, but feel better, almost justified that there really is something wrong, it's not in your head. But that is often where the similarities end. Everyone around you thinks it is in your head. Even if they've dealt with it, somehow it's not the same. You couldn't possibly have what they had. You seem fine to them. So you hide it. You stop telling people. You don't join a walk for Depression, neither do they. They don't ask what your triggers are or how your meds are working. They don't feel like you should need help forever. You can get over it. After all it's mind over matter, right?
Depression is an illness. It is a disease. It isn't crazy and it doesn't just go away. Like diabetes there are things you have to learn to stay away from, and there are drugs you may need to take for the rest of your life to stay healthy. Don't be fooled, Depression can be fatal if not treated. Just ask the %14 of people WHO WERE seeking help that end it every year. I would imagine the number jumps when you add those not seeking help or add those who medicate with illegal drugs, alcohol, sex, adrenaline. So if you have a loved one suffering from Depression;have some respect and show some support.
