By Kevin W. //
Depression is pain—a devastating, yet invisible pain.
And so, unless it’s experienced firsthand, it’s hard to comprehend.
Consider this analogy: Your brain is to you what a processor is to a computer—both carry out commands to enable healthy functioning.
Depression is a virus—a vicious, nasty virus.
As with how a virus corrupts the processor and shuts down a computer, depression devours your mind, darkens every experience, and damages your ability to function.
Studies show that depression is a chemical imbalance—a physical not psychological condition.
Depression is like a sprain. A sprain injures the bone; depression “injures” chemicals (neurotransmitters) responsible for regulating moods. When someone suffers a sprain, you cannot force them to move the area without worsening the pain. When someone suffers depression, you cannot force them to “get over it”.
As human beings, one of our most powerful abilities is the capacity to overcome obstacles, to navigate life’s roadblocks and to derive joy from personal growth. How exactly do we do it? Spirituality? Rationalization? Willpower? You can’t quantify it exactly. Yet, we know that the brain plays a part. Every time we face a problem, we harness our most precious resource to solve it.
Here’s the problem: depression hijacks our brain.
The devastation of depression, then, lies not in the fact that it’s just ‘any other problem’, but in that it weakens the very weapon we use to fight our mental battles. It cripples the very organ that gives us that ability to overcome, without which we are helpless.
It’s for this reason I believe depression (and other mental health conditions) is arguably the worst form of pain.
It’s for this reason you can’t tell a depressed person to “get over it” like ‘any other problem’.
It’s for this reason that mental health issues deserves greater awareness.
Personally, I’ve faced a mixed episode; it refers to depression coupled with mania. Mania is the reverse of depression – an intense and irrational high. It was intense but short, lasting about a year. There were times when I felt nothing can help, when I felt I’ll never be the same person – the hollow loss of identity is particularly crippling.
Yet, with professional help, reframing my mindset, and support from loved ones, I’ve recovered. Though it was the darkest period of my life, I consider it the biggest blessing – because I adopted healthier mindsets, experienced the power of unconditional love, and found an immense drive and direction through struggle.
So if you’re facing a similar trial, I write from my heart to convey – that although there are times you feel you can’t carry on, there is always hope.
The road might seem lonely and long, but I assure you there are people who understand. So if you have symptoms, do seek help, you’re not alone.
And hope on.
Remember those who love you.
You will eventually see and feel clearer.
And you’ll look back with gratitude and peace.
Hope on.
Kevin is a communications student in NTU with a heart for youth development and education. He does life skills trainings in schools and advocates mental health awareness. He writes @ https://kevinweetraining.wordpress.com/. Connect with him @krazykwee