Struggles People with Depression Know Too Well

Depression is a very difficult disorder to understand. However, there are 350 million people who suffer from depression, and they share similar struggles, though it's a different process for everyone. These are 10 different struggles people with depression know all too well.

(Note: Feeling like you're losing it? If you ever need to talk to someone about your depression or feel like you're going to hurt yourself, please call 1-800-273-8255.)

You can't simply snap out of depression.

People who do not suffer from depression often confuse sadness with depression. Everyone experiences sadness throughout their lives, some more than others, but depression is entirely different than this emotion. It's typical to misunderstand mental illness. Many people struggle to consider someone else's feelings if they have not experienced something similar at one point. This can also lead to the overuse of the word depression to be defined by being overly sad.

This can even result in friends or family being frustrated with a depressed person. For example, they believe that this person is simply feeling sorry for themselves if they cannot "snap out" of their depression after a time period they believe is unnecessary.

Relying on a pill doesn't always work, either.

One of the top struggles people with depression know is that they will have to rely on taking a pill every night to remain stable. This goes hand in hand with the issue of finding the right medication. Many people who experience depression or anxiety know that some pills make them feel as if they are not themselves anymore. This begins the trial and error process of finding the medication that allows you to feel like yourself, but minus the extremity of your depression.

The process in which you come to terms that your depression will remain a part of you is tough. And taking pills every day is a constant reminder of this. But managing your depression is the most important part of this journey.

Socializing isn't easy.

Though watching a movie, going bowling, or getting a drink with a significant other or friend sounds totally fun to someone who does not suffer from mental illness, does not mean that these activities are easy for a person with depression to enjoy.

Socializing, even if it's with your favorite people, can often feel like a chore. This has a lot to do with the burden of pretending that everything is okay in your mind. Draining is an understatement when it comes to being in an environment where it feels that everyone but yourself is stable. There can be high expectations for how you will feel when you are around your favorite people; and if these are not met, this can be very discouraging.

It can also be hard to find friends and family who are supportive of your struggle. Being able to find people who you feel comfortable enough to be around is hard as it's. Depression causes you to lose interest in things that might have brought you happiness in the past.

Selfishness is inevitable.

It's very hard to explain to the people in your life that your depression is what is making you come across as selfish. You have every right to be concentrating on getting better, and putting your mental health as your number one priority, but it's easy to feel misunderstood. This can lead to the guilt of feeling like a bad daughter, brother, friend, girlfriend, son, etc.

It might also be overwhelming to actually have a good support system in which their attention is constantly on making sure you are okay. This is not something that most people are used to, and can lead to feeling like a burden.

Try your hardest not to let this overwhelm you. A support system is there for you when you need it, and they understand that you don't have the strength to be there for others as much as you used to. This will not be forever, allow yourself to be appreciative, rather than feeling selfish.

Physical symptoms are real.

One of the most common struggles people with depression know, and others are unaware of, are physical symptoms. Experiencing depression can often lead to a list of physical reactions. These can also commonly go untreated.

One of the most common symptoms includes stomach issues. This is due to the slow of digestion. Diarrhea or constipation is very common, as well as feeling nauseous a lot. Other issues are headaches, back pain, chest pain, joint pain, chest pain, or really any type of chronic pain. Sleeping problems like insomnia resulting in fatigue often affect depressed people, as well as a change in appetite resulting in a change in weight.

Thankfully, a lot of these physical symptoms can be treated with medicine or therapy for the depression itself. This is all up to your doctor, however, so be sure to tell them any symptoms you are having.

Communication is almost impossible.

Communication is one of the constant struggles people with depression know of. Unfortunately, mental health issues are not talked about enough. This is why communication is commonly challenging to put depression into words. Even if it's not with someone in your personal life, talking to a therapist is not often easy. It's expected that once you can get a chance to talk about how you are feeling, that you should feel better, and that's not fair.

It can even be more stressful than helpful to try and portray your emotions; because if you feel that you are not understood, this can be even more of a frustration.

An option for someone who might feel this way is depression support groups. This is an opportunity to be heard by people who are dealing with similar issues. It's also important to remember it's the professional's job to help you be heard.

Just because you know of depression doesn't mean you know the depressed person.

Depressed people are often grouped together into one. This is incredibly unfair, as each person who suffers from this illness is different and go through their own journey to recovery.

It's common for people who do not suffer from depression to think that they understand a person's struggles because they know someone who once had depression, or because they learned about it in high school.

It's difficult to express how depression is not like the flu or a broken wrist. People try to recover from depression in much different ways than they can from a physical pain. And it's frustrating to be grouped into such a broad group; this is not a "one-size-fits-all" disorder.

Depressed people don't want to be lazy.

Laziness is one of the struggles people with depression know all too well. Though the people in your life may be frustrated with your lack of motivation, you are even more discouraged. Not even a good cup of coffee can get you out of bed when you're in a depressed state, and don't even think about any source of motivation.

Extreme laziness and the constant need to sleep or nap is one of the top signs that you are depressed. Just like the lack of desire to socialize, laziness comes with a guilt that you will never get anything done for yourself or others. Though you cannot blame yourself for one of the top effects of depression, it's all too easy to.

Depressed people can also go through random spells of motivation that can quickly disappear, which can be equally as irritating. Like anything, support and medical help can help these struggles.

Today's emotions don't say anything about tomorrow's.

Someone who suffers from anxiety and depression can have good days. Just because someone might not appear to be constantly sad, does not mean that they aren't still battling their disorder. This is important to know if you have someone in your life who is struggling. Because a depressed person has a good day, does not mean that the next will be the same.

Lost time is real.

There is an overwhelming pressure on the time that feels as if it's lost due to your depression. You are well aware of the opportunities and memories you are missing out on because you are being held back by your mental state.

On top of this, time also seems to drag on. It's perceived differently than someone who is healthy and allows the person to be more aware of the moments that are lost to being depressed. The fear of lost time is one of the top struggles people with depression know all too well.