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Real Relationships: Hopelessness, Depression and Suicide
by Janna Haynes, published on February 27, 2012 at 8:29 AM
Storyline: Real Relationships
Community Tags
counseling
culture
depression
family
fear
hopelessness
love
real relationships
relationships
suicide
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I recently had a conversation centered around the idea of hopelessness and suicide. The conversation was dark, depressing and eye opening. I am always amazed when I speak with someone who does not believe in depression, at least in the clinical sense. They feel it is only in a person's mind and if they would just...DO something about it, it would be all right.
Unfortunately, depression is real. It is a living, breathing part of your everyday life if you have fallen under the spell. You cannot escape it without a dedicated plan that often includes counseling and medication.
What I find myself asking is, "Why do some people seem susceptible to depression when others do not?"
I have never known depression or hopelessness, but I have seen the devastating effects that it can have on people. I have even known people who fell in so deep they decided that life wasn't worth it. Suicide is the ultimate price of depression. It is not only paid by the person who takes their own life, but paid by family, friends and coworkers.
What are the signs? How could this have been prevented? At what point does the person sinking into the sea of hopelessness, despair and depression determine that they will never get out? Did they ask for help?
There are some simple, hard-faced truths when dealing with depression. Do not assume you can face it alone. Anyone who is struggling with intense depression needs a support system around them of friends and family. Some people need to work through their thoughts and feelings verbally with a neutral third party. Some need to treat the chemical imbalance in their body with medication to combat the depression.
Regardless of the severity of depression or how it is treated, one thing remains the same: get help. Get help as soon as you realize what is happening. Talk to your family and friends. Do not be embarrassed or ashamed. You are not crazy. What is happening to you is real and can be treated if you allow it to be. Do not ignore the signs.
The internet is a valuable resource for connecting to doctors, therapists and support groups in Sacramento. It is also a great resource for identifying your symptoms and reading more about what you are dealing with. Educate yourself so that you can educate those who care about you. Together you can overcome your fears.
Love yourself enough to get help.
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Sarah Gladstone
February 27, 2012 | 2:49 PM
I tend to get upset when I hear people saying that depression is not real, but arguing the facts seems futile when someone already seems to have their mind made up. I think what it comes down to is changing the way people think of mental health. Not all mental disorders are obvious to an untrained eye, and there is always a spectrum of severity. I do however think its safe to say that we will all be affected by mental disorders at some point in our lives, whether it is through personal experience or through someone we know. And there is a difference between being sad over a specific incident or event, and being depressed with a chemical imbalance. I like the overall message of this article though; "Love yourself enough to get help."
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Sherrie Tyler
February 27, 2012 | 10:37 PM
I have been reading your articles Janna and am extremely impressed with your thought provoking and relevent answers. I can especially relate to this article.
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Heidi Darling
February 28, 2012 | 1:09 AM
Thank you for this. I have lost both family and friends to suicide. The stigma of having a mental illness can often sway those who are suffering from seeking help. I have often heard people say that if someone is talking about it, they're not going to do it. That is a myth and may also contribute to a person not opening up for fear that they won't be taken seriously or viewed as "just seeking attention". Anyone who is willing to share such painful, intimate thoughts, should be taken seriously. As for your question, there are many reasons why some people are more susceptible. While googling something (seemingly) unrelated last week, a site caught my attention. In it was the most accurate statement I've read regarding suicide: "Suicide is not chosen; it happens when pain exceeds resources for coping with pain" The site has a lot of useful information. http://www.metanoia.org/suicide/ As you said there are many resources out there, never hesitate to find the tools that will help save you or someone you love.
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