Beyond the Blues
Understanding depression is difficult; hear from Psyche's community of peers on their experiences with this mood disorder.
A Treatment for Depression
Depression is a fairly common ailment and ways of treating it range from medication to therapy or a combination of many things, including support from loved ones. I have many friends that share their stories on social media, the medications they take and simple posts talking through it all. I read, click the heart emoji, and will often private message them and let them know that I am open to talk, if they should need it.
By Desi Logan8 years ago in Psyche
Definitional Essay of Depression
Depression Depression is a pit of emotions that is difficult to climb out of. Once you fall in, you must fight long and hard to exit. It is something I myself am still going through to this very day. Ever since my father, who was the only one in my family I really cared about, died when I was 11-years-old, I have been depressed. It is hard to describe a feeling of depression for everyone but, for me, it feels like a routine. The first part of that routine is waking up, my second part is trying to make it through the day, and the third part is going to bed finally. Each day has its high and low points but all days are plagued by the same nagging feeling that never seems to go away. Let’s discuss the three worst types of depression: suicidal depression, then depression caused by grief, and then depression due to being unconfident.
By Ghost Writer8 years ago in Psyche
The Mask that Hides Us
There you are, smiling, laughing, dying on the inside. It is a difficult life to live when you suffer from severe depression and have to function as a normal human being. People don’t understand the weight the disease has on you, and yes, depression is a disease. So you put on that mask, and pretend to be happy when all you really want to do is curl up and hide away from the world.
By Vanessa Cherron Riser8 years ago in Psyche
Depression and Its Day
For someone who suffers from depression, or who has suffered from depression in the past, will know how different one day to the next can be. For example, for a person who hasn't suffered or experienced depression, they know they will experience different actions, activities and interact with different people throughout one day. But individuals with depression don't really know what they will experience or what will happen.
By Tanisha Dagger8 years ago in Psyche
Daddy’s Girl
It was a sunny day in October. The sun was out, wind blew breezes from the tree. We were supposed to go to the pumpkin patch later in the day. It started just like all of my ordinary days. I got up, washed my face, brushed my teeth, got ready, and headed to work. I spent the first half of the morning working with my favorite manager, laughing and messing around through our shift. I’m a delivery driver and tips were good that day. I made over $40, which is a good day. I had no idea that later this day, I would decide I wanted to take my life.
By Alissa Corona8 years ago in Psyche
Her Name
There was only one way to keep her quiet. She needed to think it was her idea. She wasn’t like most twelve-year-old girls. She was dark, cynical to the point of self-destruction. Her outlandish sense of humor made it impossible for her to connect with anyone. This being what it was, she never viewed it as much of a problem. She was rather small for her age, the runt of the litter — a description that rang true on more levels than one. In fact, she always felt like an outcast in a society she never had a desire to be a part of to begin with. Her jet-black hair, the coffee-colored irises of her eyes, her swarthy complexion, and her overall disheveled appearance were all very true reflections of shadows lurking beneath the fleshly level — the secret looming, longing to be discovered, revealed. Her name was Simone Coletun and there was one way to keep her quiet; it was simply this: ask her to talk.
By Final Thoughts8 years ago in Psyche
What It's Like to Have PTSD
Having PTSD is beyond scary. Most can't fathom the depths of its terror. It is like there is a deep dark sadness and it engulfs you, crushing your lungs until it seeps into you. It wraps itself around your organs and bones so you feel this sadness throughout your whole being. It begins to define you. It even seeps into your brain where it wreaks havoc. It drags you kicking and screaming into the past with nightmares and flashbacks over and over again. It makes the horrors of the past real and present dangers. There is no getting away from them. You can't outrun them. You can't reason with them. They are all there to stay for good.
By Lexi Merrick8 years ago in Psyche
Depression
Surgery can be traumatic for anyone and at 20 years of age having reconstructive knee surgery and a total knee replacement isn't exactly what I had in mind. It has been, to date, by far the most traumatic experience of my life. At the age of 20 I went from being an active gym head to loosing complete use of my right leg. I spent two and a half months completely bed bound. I could not walk, stand or even go to the toilet on my own without the assistance of someone else. Yes, they had to be right beside me. I couldn't sit on the toilet nor could I get off the toilet without help from someone. Someone had to be beside me at all times because I was a code red fall hazard. I couldn't sleep on my side because I didn't have the strength to turn or roll myself over. I had to permanently sleep on my back. I couldn't sleep alone incase I needed to go to the toilet during the night or I needed help with something else. I couldn't dress or wash myself. I became helpless. I also became very lonely. I couldn't leave my bed. The furthest I traveled each day would be to the bathroom.
By The Glass Child8 years ago in Psyche
Signs of Depression in Men
It may surprise you to learn that the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide is depression. According to the World Health Organization, a staggering 300 million people suffer from depression. And that’s just diagnosed depression. Even more so for men than women, depression is deeply misunderstood and still widely prevalent. Although many indicators of depression in men and women may be similar, the disease will always manifest itself in different ways in different people. In a stigma-filled society, men can be especially vulnerable because like many of us, they may be resistant to observing and acknowledging the signs of depression and then seeking help. Depression is treatable, and it can be overcome. These key signs of depression in men are critical to recognize; it may just change your life.
By Sophie Heller8 years ago in Psyche
