There is no shame in admitting and accepting that you feel that you can no longer cope.
We all have our highs and lows; this is part of the balance in life. When our lows are becoming overwhelmingly, hard to manage, it leaves us feeling depleted.
We are not sitting down feeling sorry for ourselves. We are genuinely suffering inside.
I was never keen on being labelled as a manic depressive, and it took me a long time to accept the diagnosis. I eventually engaged with the Community Mental Health Team.
Sometimes people do not realise that they are going through depression they sometimes put it down to having another physical disease.
Anxiety and depression can start with symptoms such as panic attacks, lack of motivation, stomach pains, loss of appetite, headaches, and dizziness.
The General Practitioner will normally send you for further investigation to rule out any physical illnesses.
A person may not accept the diagnosis of depression as this is not the outcome they want to hear.
Everyone has a limit, and if they need to temporarily take medication to pick them up, they are sometimes made to feel like they have failed themselves.
The human body is not designed to withstand everything, and no one has a right to judge another person.
Medication is the last resort, to help bring that person’s brain back to a level where they can at least function better.
The next stage is if the tablets are suitable, the person will be able to function and engage in alternative therapy to find a way of managing the illness.
It is not always easy to find the right medication as you certainly don’t want some of the body changing side effects.
As a fellow sufferer of dark depressive episodes, I feel helpless sitting with others in their first stages of the illness.
I know that the longer it is ignored, the sufferer could end up in crisis with a nervous breakdown or worse end their lives.
Remember that everyone is unique and different, some people are good at hiding their pain.
I was always one of the people when in public, came across as happy go lucky. I admit that I was always afraid to sit with myself.
The only people who would have guessed were people I chose to confide with, which were very few.
I have suffered from depression all my life. The first time I had counselling was when I was eighteen, and that was because I had suicidal ideations.
I wasn’t diagnosed with Manic Depression until 2007 but I was in denial of my diagnosis. I was already taking Prozac as I found I could not function.
The mood stabilizers and anti-psychotics I refused at the time.
There is no cure for my illness, every day I have to learn to manage it.
I cannot say I trusted every psychiatrist that I had seen, but in the last eight years, I had two exceptionally good ones that seemed to be genuine.
I also had some absolutely horrible experiences with others before. They seemed to only care about their pay packet and how much medication they could use to zombify you.
If you know me well, I am the most stubborn person you will ever meet, and I know when someone is not looking out for my best interests.
I really am enthusiastic about encouraging sufferers to let them know that they are not alone in their struggle.
In my experience I cannot call anyone selfish to not want to hear constant problems. I can’t blame them. It can be draining if that person is not willing to do anything to help themselves.
I remember when I was in my twenties, my sister enjoyed shopping with me at a cost of having a migraine when she got home.
When I look back on this, I can only say that I feel really bad as it was selfish of me. Nobody wants to be listening to constant negativity, and I did nothing to help myself other than being a chain smoker.
I am aware that although my sister felt drained, she still kept meeting up with me and never once, told me to shut up. She knew the pain I was in, so she put up with me.
Not everyone suffers from a depressive illness, as I have written in my earlier work, we will all come across difficult and troubled times.
I am mindful of not being judgemental about people who are constantly posting the sadness of their lives on social media platforms. I stay away from depression help groups as I don’t want to feel constant pain. I also find some posts draining.
I am not a psychiatrist; I am not qualified to make a diagnose of a person’s state of mind. I cannot say whether that person who has written a suicidal post will actually see it through.
I don’t ever want to be the person that causes somebody’s demise.
So, amongst anyone I know who is feeling sad, anxious, or suffering bereavement, I try my best to deliver comfort in my replies.
I will never tell you to pull yourself together or get on over it!
A mindful approach must be taken when people are suffering from any form of depression, anxiety, or any other form of mental difficulties.
Caution must be taken in the way we address the situation.
We must not pass judgement.
REMEMBER CRITICISM CAN BECOME CRITICAL!
Be mindful of the signs of change in anyone you love.
Raise awareness especially amongst the younger generation.
Remember, not everyone does things for attention it may be vitally important to tune in with them!
In everything there must be a balance
Natalie Bleau
The Scripture of Balance.
