Categories: Society & Culture

Depression and Suicide: Words From a Survivor

Lately, I have noticed a increasing rate of people, mainly the younger generation, with depression. Most of all I’ve noticed how normal its become. Today, it is not unusual for the typical young person to have depression or suicidal thoughts, most do not claim it or seek help. As a person who has experienced a battle with depression and suicide, it is quite understandable for me, but for most parents and older generations that is not so. Well let me give you a deeper understanding. Depression is not constant sadness, it is a mixture of emotions, with the most common being emptiness. Yes, I know how does someone feel empty? Well emptiness comes when you are missing something inside you, this could be anything from love, parental affection, social attention, etc. Emptiness is a very overwhelming feeling that is often times hard to understand, leaving people confused and unable to deal with it. Other emotions that come with depression are: anger, confusion, sadness, disappointment, and much much more varying from person to person. All these emotions put together can be difficult to deal with and sometimes it may feel impossible. Depression for the most part leads to suicidal thoughts, ideations, and attempts. The common depression will start out as sadness, then progress into emptiness, and finally progress into suicidal thoughts etc. There is a lull before you get to the suicidal things, a point where you neither want to live, nor die, this is just a stage of progression. Most individuals will hide or disguise this mental illness and their suicidal tendencies. You need to watch for signs such ass: loss of interest in things that they are usually interested in, loss of appetite, mood swings, being tired etc. You can read more about signs on a suicide prevention website.

There are a lot of things that can lead to depression. It varies from person to person and situation to situation. Either way its depression. Although depression is very overwhelming and hard to overcome it is possible to become happy once again. I promise.

If you are a person that wants to help someone with depression or suicidal tendencies, here are some tips:

  1. Do not be pushy, be patient. This mental illness is already overwhelming, constant pushing for someone to be okay might push the person to the edge. Healing takes time, and remember that people relapse and mess up, continue to be patient and remind them that they matter and that they are loved. Try some fun activities with them and spend some valuable time with them.
  2. Don’t get mad at them for being depressed, this will only make a person despise themselves more and fall deeper into the pit of depression. Instead, remind them that you love them no matter what, be supportive and helpful.
  3. Don’t press them as to why they’re depressed, Ask them once and if they are not ready to talk about it, give them time. As I said, be patient.
  4. *For Parents* if your child is depressed please do not be disappointed, that only makes it worse. Do your best to be understanding and try to help. Do some research, to help you understand. Remind your children that you love them.
  5. When and if they are self harming, do not stare! This is a big one! Staring only makes the person uncomfortable and start to overthink. It makes them feel very abnormal.
  6. When recovering, do not keep bringing up the fact that they were depressed. This only reminds the person of it and slows them down from recovering.
  7. Lastly, if you start seeing relapsing signs, do not ask them if they are depressed again, or if they want to kill themselves, this is far too straightforward and can sometimes anger people. Instead, ask if they are alright? this is subtle and more comfortable.

Now, if you are a person struggling with depression, remember that nothing lasts forever, and that you are not foolish for feeling the way you do. Try to figure out what is hurting you, maybe it’s time for a change, maybe it’s something from your past. If that’s your situation remember there are people who are willing to listen. You are not alone. Finally, you are strong, you are loved, and you are important.

Sincerely,

A Survivor of Depression




  • Diamond Howard

    View Comments

    • Very informative article right from the heart. Appreciate you for sharing your experience and looking to see more articles from you. I have seen people facing depression and many families shattered as they happened to be the sole bread earners of the family. I feel it is a combination of work , personal life, family, societal pressures, new things coming in work place, unable to cope up with the issues at hand, feeling overwhelmed and many more such reasons combined over a period of years which are not addressed and thus result in depression in the individual.

      People do no know what they are going through. Life is going a fast and furious pace and there comes a crash which was least expected by them and others in their family. It takes years and the right medication and treatment to get over this issue and chances of relapse are always there. So one has to be very mindful of what they are going through. More than 20 percent of the worlds population is suffering this problem and other mind related problems. Best wishes.

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