#IAMAStatistic: Dealing With Depression As A Millennial

Depression. It’s an ugly word that most people want to ignore but for other’s its a problem they have to face everyday. The definition of depression is as stated: “mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.”

According to WebMD over an estimated 40 million American adults suffer from major depression. 40 MILLION and counting american’s go through the struggle of feeling sad, lonely and lost everyday and I am one of them. We all can have those mornings where you just don’t feel like getting out of bed and starting your day. But imagine feeling that way for days, weeks and sometimes even months with not even a reason why. Imagine feeling like your world is crushing you like a wave and there’s no way to reach the surface.

This is what depression can feel like or just a small part of it.

Not a lot of people understand depression. Most people just say smile and be happy, but it’s not that easy. When there’s a chemical imbalance in your brain that you can’t control it’s hard.

I’m not ashamed of having depression and i’m going to show you that you shouldn’t be either. You could be just having a rough week, but if your thoughts are progressing, consider reaching out for help. The first thing when it comes to dealing with depression is first being able to identify the signs.

Below are the top 9 signs of depression and something to look forward to if you find yourself struggling.

We know that depression has been around for quite some time even when it wasn’t technically labeled as depression. But as time has gone on and society has progressed, there has been more of an increase in depression. Why you may ask? It’s simple. Social media has greatly influenced the increase in depression and it’s only getting worse.

People, for the most part, only post the good things or put a fake front on social media. The social media version of you is not always the same version in real life. These slides shows exactly how over time social media has greatly influenced depression.

When you do suffer from depression, you feel like there is no way of escaping from it. You feel that a dark cloud is looming over you and all the negative thoughts you could possibly have are filling your mind. If you know someone who is suffering from depression, on the outside you might not think they are.

Coming from my past experiences dealing with depression first hand, it’s fairly easy to put on a front and to act like you are okay. You don’t want people to know your having a weak moment or to feel like they have to pity you for what your going through. Most people are AFRAID of confronting someone about their depression. In fact, only 1/3 of people who are suffering will actually reach out for help. So how are we going to stop this fear and start making it more of a norm to be open about?

There are so many ways we can start talking about depression and making it more of a social norm.

To start a movement, I made a post about a month ago on my Facebook Page asking for volunteers who were or had suffered from depression to tell me their story and what they want other’s to know. Just by reaching out to a few family and friends to help make this possible, I found out not only something new about them, but also that I wasn’t alone. Being a statistic of depression doesn’t mean your weak as a person it just means you know a little more about yourself then other people do.

Six people out of 40 million who suffer from depression are here to share their story for you:

If you don’t live under a rock, you would know there has been a mass explosion when it comes to talking about suicide prevention. What was the reason for this? “13 Reason’s Why” of course.

The show hit Netflix in the beginning of April and has since sparked a talk about these hard conversations. It’s a show that someone who is suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts can relate to and realize your not alone. Selena Gomez executive produced the show and has been very open about her experience as well as trying to make a change for mental illness.

This show covered some very hard topics that made it difficult at times to watch, but it made a strong awareness about mental illness and suicide.

Continuing the talk about depression, I sat down with my long-time friend Hannah and discussed her personal struggle with depression and how we can make a change in the world. Having a close friend who is able to relate with you about what is going on your mind had helped me feel better about what I was going through. Depression can make you feel like you are isolated on an island and there’s no escape route. But having a friend who I can talk to about my problems really helped and I hope will help you as well.

Dealing with depression is no easy process. There are not only many steps, but many alternative routes you can take to help you cope a little easier.

Suicide should never be an easy way out or even an option on your plate. You have so much to look forward to in life and although life may seem rough in the moment, it can always get better. Medication is always one way to help with your depression but sometimes they can not be as effective or the side effects aren’t worth taking the medication. Below are 5 ways you can cope on your own instead of taking medication or on top if you need an extra mood booster:

To end this I wanted to share a video about a student in high school named Hunter who suffered from depression deeply and shared her story in a Ted Talk. Her story not only was relatable to me, but also helped me realize that the only way your going to get stronger is by working on yourself first.Do more of what makes you happy because at the end of the day your health and self love is greater then anything.

Become your own HERO and know that you can and will get through this.

For more information or you need someone to talk to please call 1–800–273-TALK