First, just let me say I'm a little
upset now. I had this perfect blog typed and published, then because the
preview showed me something I didn't like I closed the window and now it's all
gone, so I'm a little worse off than I was before...that being said this is a
second attempt to make this blog.
(these
next few pictures are from a blog I will post below)
I'm making this blog very
personal, something I have done int he past but to this level.
People that have depression, can't
tell another person what they feel and have that person understand it. So
in an attempt to help those who don't fully understand I am going to the
internet and posting some articles I have found so far.
Article #1:
A girl (I think) was asking how she
can help her friend.
How do depressed people feel inside?
I know it sounds like a stupid question, they are obviously
feeling down. But one of my close friends is a manic depressive and he always
says I’ll never understand how he's feeling. When i ask him to tell me he
doesn't. I want to try and understand him, so i was wondering if anyone has had
experience with anything like this so i could maybe at least try to understand
him. I want to help him.
Here are a few answers they received:
1. When I’m depressed I feel like somebody close to me just
died. I feel heavy and weighed down and my heart and stomach actually hurt. I
want to cry over everything and can’t take any kind of stress without a having
a meltdown.
2. I've been depressed and I can tell you that it's
really awful. Everything looks really bleak, you look at yourself and wonder
why you even bother because life doesn't feel worth getting up in the morning
for and you would rather be dead than carry on. You look at the future and
instead of seeing a way out, you just see a load of closed doors.
You can't handle your life anymore,
the slightest thing makes you want to cry and never get up again, and you feel
stressed all the time and speak to people in ways that normally you wouldn't.
You kind of distance yourself from people because you think they won't
understand.
You don't feel any motivation anymore to do anything constructive or
worthwhile, because it all seems so pointless.
3. Read Kat reply she has it
summed up, well almost. It causes you to feel like you want to shut the world
out, do not want to speak to anyone, not even shopkeepers. Want to spend time
alone. Low self-worth to, because you’re so depressed, the depressed person doesn't care
about themselves much, appearance etc. life feels numb to the person, like
you’re a tiny ant in a big wasps nest. That’s how i would describe
it. Also the days just roll into one and never seem to end, and when you sleep
at night you pray that you don't wake up the next morning, all the
day to day fight has gone from you, just going through the motions. Unless
you've had it yourself, you could never possibly understand what it’s like for
that person. Also the person does not want sympathy, as they feel patronized by
it, just try to be normal with them and be there when they need you,
but don't push or you will alienate the person too. But
well done Kat almost spot on.
4. Like nothing ever goes right
for them. They feel low, gloomy, sad, miserable, and feel like even though
their lives seem to be quite perfect (they might be attractive, have a nice
background, have a good job) they still don't feel happy. They usually feel
people expect them to be something and that puts huge pressure on them to be
"perfect" and they are overly-critical.
The truth is, if you're not depressed, you never WILL understand someone who is
depressed. It's best off if you are just there for your friend when he needs
you. He will thoroughly appreciate your friendship.
5. Mental illnesses are hard to
sum up and although I know you’re trying to help your friend but he may find it
frustrating and think your trying to make it out to be a small problem and one
feeling. I suffered from depression from the age of 15 and you can read about
my experience if you click on my profile and my answered questions.
Tell your friend that although you
can only try to understand how he is feeling and you may never really know
that you’re always there for him and he can always talk to you.
Don't probe too much and he will naturally start to talk to you when
he is feeling comfortable giving you a better understanding. You are a
true friend and you are doing all you can even doing research but
your friend must help himself first
Article #2:
The reason for this blog. For the past 3 almost 4 years I have been
suffering from some form of depression. The past year or so has been getting
worse. I'm on the verge of tears, I hate going to work, I hate going home
from work and I hate leaving after I get home. The only thing that has made me
feel somewhat human is Anthony sitting in my lap, looking at me and smiling.
Once he's off my lap, it all returns.
I am told almost daily
that I can switch my mood into a better mood whenever I feel like it and that I
choose to be depressed. I say something and get told I'm wrong, then if
that isn't good enough, he goes online and proves to me that I'm wrong, even if
I'm half right I'm still wrong.
I'm depressed, nothing
can change my mood, nothing has made it better and telling me that I'm not giving
you what you want isn't making me feel better. My feelings are not about you
but the way you make me feel makes it worse. I can't
show romantic feelings when I don't feel romantic. I've bee married
for a little over a year, I should be happy and I'm not. I should want to go
home and be with him and I don't. I shouldn't want to cry all the time,
always on the verge and sometimes one sneaks out when I can't hold it back
anymore. I cry over everything, EVERYTHING!
I watch sad movies and
can't cry, I read a sad story and can't stop crying.
What is the cause of all
this? I have no clue. Some of it is caused from the medication
I have to take for the rest of my life...yes the rest of my life. My
thyroid medication can cause depression and does with most people that take it.
So no I can't switch my mood to make myself happy. I would like to
meet someone that can...until then I'm waiting for the test results from my
doctor to see where we go next.
