I was about 10 when I was diagnosed with Major Depression, one of three types of depressive disorders. Disthymic and Adjustment disorder are the other two. It was something that until recently I was embaressed to talk about, especially since I found out that some people think it's something drug companies made up. Some of it is, that much is obvious, but a lot of it isn't. In fact evidence of depression has been around since ancient times. Of course it went by different names.
Meloncholia was mentioned by Hippocrates his people believed that it was caused by an imbalence of humors. It was mentioned by Arab and Persian doctors. In medieval times christians called it Acecia,a possible precursor to Sloth, one of the Seven Deadly Sins written down by a monk.
Signs of depresson vary from person to person but there are things they have in common. A persistent feeling of worthlessness or loosing interest in things you enjoyed,for example. Some people crave food like I do or they have no appitite. Some people want to sleep all the time, like me, others can't sleep. In some cases it's a normal reaction, like the death of a loved one. That is not the same as the illness. The illness is like a living thing that won't let you go, it's always there ready to randomly grab you and pull you under,feeding off itself.
There are ways to beat it back, some good, others not very smart. We are all aware of the not so smart ones such as alchohol. It is an ineffective treatment obviously or there wouldn't be alchoholics, not to mention it's a depressent. Positive methods are talk therapy, medication, music, hobbies, volunteering, vitamin D, exersize, a heathy diet, support groups, pets, friends, faith, whatever works for you.
Depression has a spiral effect on people. Someone with the disorder affects everyone around them, espesially if it goes untreated. That affect is negitive, draging family down with you, not taking care of reposibilities. They may start feeling depressed if they don't leave you. Then there is the damage caused by suicide, the horror, anger, and grief it causes.
Unfortunately a lot of people don't get help. THere are a lot of reasons for this. They might not care enough anymore to make an effort. There is also the stigma that comes with mental illness. Emotional pain, especially that with no extaernal cause is seen by many as a weakness, it's the way many cultures are set up. People don't want to seem weak and face ridcule. Taking care of yourself in not weak, it is neccesary. Many think we can snap out of it, if we could do that it would never of happened to begin with.
It took me a while not to be ashamed of my disorder, sometimes I still am. It's not an excuse for behavior, there are treatments and constructive ways to cope. It is a pain in the ass and well as some other parts of my body. It is a part of my life and if it a part of yours, do something about it.
http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/
http://suicidal.com/depressionandsuicide/stigma.html 
Comment by Rev. Angellus on May 12, 2011 at 5:58pm 
Comment by Dr Edie on May 12, 2011 at 4:32pm 
Comment by Crescent (Rev) on May 12, 2011 at 10:21am 
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