There is something that very few people know about me.
I suffer from depression and anxiety.
There. I’ve said it and it’s out in the open.
I’m not ashamed of suffering from depression. Perhaps there was a time in the beginning of my struggles that I was ashamed. I thought that I was weak and that I should have better control over my emotions. I suffered with the mental illness for well over two years before I finally went to my doctor for help. Asking for help was one of the hardest things I have ever done. I will never forget that day when I went to my doctor. I spent the whole morning feeling anxious and sick to my stomach about the appointment. I almost cancelled my appointment half a dozen times. When I was sitting in the doctors office and my doctor started asking me questions, I started to cry and it was at that moment that I didn’t think of myself as weak. I am a strong and independent woman. I’m capable of doing many things and I can conquer anything that I set my mind to. My depression, however, is not my fault and it is beyond my control. What I learned is that it is an illness that can be managed.
What is Depression?
“1 in 5 Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their lives.” ~ Canadian Institute of Health Research
First and foremost, depression is NOT an weakness. It is not something that one can “just get over” as many people think. Depression is an illness. It is different from short periods of feeling down. Someone who is suffering from depression has feelings of despair over a long period of time. A person suffering from depression often will feel as though they are treading water and they are struggling to keep their head above the water. This person will not see “the light at the end of the tunnel”. Everything can feel like a huge burden. Depression can affect every aspect of a person’s life-from emotions, physical health, relationships with others and work.
Signs and Symptoms
There are many different signs and symptoms of depression. Often, depression can be difficult to diagnose. A lot of times, people do not want to make their struggles known to others and seek treatment as to avoid the stigma behind mental health issues.
Some of the symptoms include:
- A sad, despairing mood that is often present and lasts most of the day or weeks on end;
- Very few “up moments” where a person feels happy and themselves;
- Decrease in performance at work or school;
- Lack of interest in normal routine and other activities of interest (i.e. exercise, reading, movie watching, etc.);
- Withdrawal from friends and family and a desire to be left alone;
- Changes in appetite and weight;
- Changes in sleep routine. Often a person suffering with depression often also suffers with insomnia;
- Feeling of hopelessness and low self-esteem;
- Irritability and fatigue;
- Trouble concentrating and delayed decision making;
- Anxiety; and
- Excessive crying or being able to cry easily (mostly the triggers are insignificant).
Some people also experience thoughts of self-harm or suicide. These symptoms should always be taken seriously and not ignored.
What Can I Do?
Most importantly, if you are having thoughts of self-harm or suicide, seek immediate help! See your doctor, go to the emergency room or dial 9-1-1. It’s important that these thoughts are taken seriously and not ignored!
If you suffer from depression, make an appointment with your doctor to talk about your symptoms. Your doctor will suggest a course of action to help you deal with your depression and help you manage the illness. Prior to seeing my doctor, I was absolutely against taking anti-depressants because I was of the mindset that I could handle my emotions. It wasn’t until I reached my breaking point and I sought help that I realized that depression wasn’t as simple as handling my own emotions. I was dealing with an illness that affected the chemistry of my brain. Once my doctor started treating me for depression, I realized for the first time just how misguided I was about the illness. I’ve been taking anti-depressants for just over a year now and I do not regret my decision to start taking them.
Your doctor may recommend a good psychiatrist or psychologist to talk to. If you are open to this treatment and your employer offers benefits, you should look into how much coverage you have under your benefit plan for this treatment.
FEBRUARY 12TH: BELL’s MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS DAY.
Let’s talk about Mental Health! It’s important more so than ever to talk about mental health. We need to abolish the stigma behind mental illness and reach out and support those who battle depression and other mental health illnesses. A person who is suffering from depression is not weak, they are simply suffering from an illness. Someone who is suffering from depression can’t simply “get over it”. Believe me, any person who suffers from depression would love to simply snap their fingers and have everything be normal and perfect again. Sadly, it doesn’t work like that.
February 12th is Bell’s Mental Health Awareness Day. It’s time to raise awareness to mental health illnesses and to let those who are suffering with depression and other mental health issues that they are not alone and they do not need to suffer in silence.
On February 12th, Bell is hosting a Let’s Talk Day. For every text and long distance call made by Bell customers or tweet using #BellsLetsTalk on February 12th, Bell will donate 5¢. They are hoping to beat 2011’s total of $3,303,961.80. Together we can make this happen. Text everyone in your address book a simple “hello”, call every long distance number you have in your address book and know that while you talk to your loved ones, you are helping raise awareness for an often silent illness that so many people struggle with.
Let’s talk Canada.
The World According to Me, Myself and I! 