If you have never stood, holding a razor blade to your wrist begging yourself to slice, if you have never considered pulling the wheel too hard around the bend in the hopes your car would slide, if you have never honestly wondered if your children would be better off without you in their lives--then you have never felt the incredible absence of feeling that is Depression.
If you have never been so empty that tears will no longer come, if you have never been so alone that it doesn't matter if you rise from your bed, if you have never known you are even below the very rock at the bottom--then you have never entered the abyss that is Depression.
If you have never awoken more exhausted than when you lay down, if your bones have never have hurt without your being injured, if your very skin has never writhed away in pain from loving human touch--then you have never endured the tearing sensitivity that is Depression.
If you have never turned from the ant-like, superficial lives of those around you with cynicism, if you have never known the gnawing circle of disgust in your center, if you have never endured apprehension of impending doom...and pained more that it doesn't come--then you have never seen through the twisted eyes that are Depression.
If you have never looked into another person's eyes and started at the recognition of seeing their grief, if you have never held another body wracked with sobs and known no comments are adequate, if you have never wept for her tears that would not flow--then you have never been humbled to know you have survived Depression.
Depression Facts and Stats
Depressive disorders affect approximately 18.8 million American adults or about 9.5% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year.
Everyone, will at some time in their life be affected by depression -- their own or someone else's.
Pre-schoolers are the fastest-growing market for antidepressants. At least four percent of preschoolers -- over a million -- are clinically depressed.
The rate of increase of depression among children is an astounding 23% p.a.
54% of people believe depression is a personal weakness.
41% of depressed women are too embarrassed to seek help.
80% of depressed people are not currently having any treatment.
15% of depressed people will commit suicide.
Depression will be the second largest killer after heart disease by 2020 -- and studies show depression is a contributory factor to fatal coronary disease.
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12 comments:
Depression is a very real disease and it is scary. I have personally seen it affect and nearly destroy people I know. Thanks for sharing all these facts and your own experience. I hope you are doing well.
Great and very brave post on a subject that most don't want to admit.
Wow! This is so very, very true. I've dealt with trying to understand depression in my husband and both children, and it's an amazing journey. Thankfully, each has sought help and we have a much better understanding of this illness. Thank you for sharing this very powerful post with us.
Oh Florinn.. this was beautiful and real. I truly appreciate you taking the time to come back to my blog and participate in this project. Your insights are so valuable!
My post is finally up!
Wow. What an accurate description of depression. I've lived them all.
Thanks for visiting my blog today.
I have tears in my eyes because you got it down so right. Unfortunately, there are so many who believe that al you have to do in think happy thoughts or take vitamins to feel better. They should all read this post.
Depression is a very misunderstood disease that has a lot of stigma attached to it. I have seen several good friends suffer with it. Thanks for sharing your insights.
Your words powerfully relay the pain of depression.
Your post is a valuable contribution and helps those of us who haven't walked this path better understand.
I recently worked on a convention for women in the town I lived. We had lots of attendees and lots of workshops. I found it horrible that only four people attended the workshop on women's depression. I spoke with the speaker afterwards, to see if she was disappointed. She noted that those four women were now more empowered to do what they needed to in order to better understand the depression in themselves or the ones around them. She said that they rarely get more than ten people, regardless of the amount of attendees.
It is sad to me that mental health is treated so differently than any other body organ's health. When you start feeling pains in your heart, you head to the Doctor. If your Doctor told you that you needed a pill for your heart, you would not hesistate to take one.
Yet when it's your head or your emotional heart that hurts, it's suddenly shameful. I yearn for the day when this is not the case and our society accepts those that seek help for themselves.
Thank you for your honest and much needed post.
What's difficult is that if you are honest about your own depression, even people who love you get suddenly uncomfortable, and often they *shush* you.
They want you to get better and take care of yourself, but if that means also being brutally honest about what you are experiencing and what you are doing about it...well, you know.
What an amazing post. I have learnt so much from this. Thank you for posting so beautifully.
Beautiful post.
I've been there.
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