Do You Suffer From Depression?

There are many misconceptions when people think of the word depression. Some folks believe we are just having a moment, we'll get over it, we're just fine, etcetera. Many people don't understand the veracity of such a devilish emotion. Speaking from experience, I hope to shed some light on those who either feel alone or don't quite understand.

One common misconception that tends to agitate me the most would have to be that depression is a sign of weakness. Although an individual can perceive themselves as weak, by no means are we incapacitated. Weakness comes from our state of mind. We believe that there's no way out. I always envisioned myself in a cold dark room. I'd look for windows and doors, but all I could find was the disappointment. Rusty iron shackles are pulling tightly on my ankles. They appeared as though they have been there my entire life's duration. The chains represent my past, and the blinded room is an interpretation of how I see my future. I used to feel this way all the time. Now it's only occasional. I would lie in bed lifeless. I wouldn't move a single muscle. Even something so undemanding as this seemed to take up more energy than I thought I had. My door opens, people peek in, ask if I'm OK, but do they genuinely care to know? I can see on their face that they're frightened to speak to me. They're afraid of hurting me more. I can't blame them. Sometimes I feel like a single pane of glass just waiting to shatter.

Feeling alone is something I occasionally find impossible to shake. Imagine standing in a single room with five hundred individuals. We are all standing still. You feel invisible to every single one of them. Even with whom you might be bumping shoulders. No one will look at you, no one will acknowledge you, and the hardest of all, no one will listen to you. You feel like you were meant to suffer alone. In a way you are. What people don't understand is we know the difference between right and wrong. We know it is wrong to think certain things or feel specific ways, but what goes on in our mind is almost unexplainable. We try to overcome it with hobbies we usually enjoy. It might take away some pain for the moment, but eventually, we all get tired.

It's OK to not feel so well. We all experience things we can't quite explain. Sometimes it's hard to keep going, but if we learn to believe in ourselves, we can overcome anything. To any of whom who might not have understood how deep this emotion goes, I hope you do now. It's difficult to control. There is no easy fix or cure. We might be faced with obstacles, but we will never be defeated.