Ann
Garcia
Composition
I
Spring
2019
Final
Project
The Great Mental Illness
Pitch black darkness overwhelms you, the numbness
feeling awakens as you fall into a pit where the bottom does not exist. You
feel hollow, but your insides weigh heavy. Your mind is reminding you of your
unworthiness, incapableness, and how you will never truly be loved. Exhaustion
sweeps you off your feet as you fall deeper and deeper into the pit. You
isolate yourself and your only comfort is in your bed sheets at home. These
overwhelming feelings are the usual circumstances for people who live with
depression and carry out their everyday lives.
Depression is a widely known mental health disorder
which negatively affects a person’s feelings, their thought process, and their
actions. Depression affects over 18 million adults in any given year and
recently the rate of youth experiencing a mental health condition has risen
from 11.93% to 12.63% (Kessler 1) (Gionfriddo 1). Commonly these adults and
adolescents will experience loss of interest in certain activities including lack
of sleep, as well as many other guilt wrenching feelings causing them to think
unclearly. Depression is an evil within the brain and the state of mind. It is
a common medical illness but rarely ever completely treated in a diagnosed
person. Someone you know and love is at the risk of having depression and
there’s a possibility you may not even know whether they have it or not.
History
The
feelings of severe misery in many ordinary persons has he in recent years, “the
earliest recorded history of depression mental illness appeared in the second
millennium B.C Mesopotamia”, discovered in writings (Schimelpfening 1). The
unusual desolation was discussed as being a spiritual linking rather than a
diagnosable mental illness. The earliest ideas of depression were brought upon
as being caused by demons and evil spirits so instead of medical treatment, the
ancient Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, and many other cultures would resolve to
other methods of treatments. These so-called treatments involved “beatings,
physical restraint, and starvation” attempting to rid the demons (1). This
miserable treatment continued throughout Acenturies of depression, and the
illness was rarely treated fairly: Christianity dominated European thinking,
making exorcisms, drowning, and burning popular treatments during the Middle
Ages, witch hunts continued throughout the 14th century, people were
shunned or locked up during the 18th and 19th century. Water
immersion as well as spinning stools during the middle of the Age of
Enlightenment. There are many ancient beliefs in the physical causes of
depression involving an imbalance in the four body fluids by Hippocrates and
psychological causes, such as rage, fear, and grief by Cicero. Today,
psychologists and doctors have a better understanding of depression and how it
can arise from a combination of multiple causes. None of these involve demons
or evil spirits. The certain circumstances could be biological, psychological,
as well as social factors (1).
Social Effects
Depression
has become a global problem with over 18 million people having the constant
feeling of unhappiness. This condition has become a major health problem in the
United States causing many interventions targeting high-risk individuals to be
developed. The World Health Organization found depression as the “second
greatest reason for disability in the world”, leading to believe this mental
illness costs thousands of people their happiness, ethics, and will to live (Jo
1). Depression is a huge toll on the people dealing with it and can lead to the
possibility of thoughts of causing one’s own death, which can affect others in
their society and community. Suicide and depression are in fact linked with an
“estimate of up to 60% of people who commit suicide have major depression”, the
impact of suicide takes an emotional toll on families and friends involved,
leaving a mournful effect on the community in which the depressed person lived
(Holmes 1).
This
mental illness can easily take over a person who was always smiling and lively,
and once it grasps a hold on a person it doesn’t leave. The depression drags itself
around like chains, pulling the person lower and lower until they can’t get
back up again. The mood changes of someone who is suffering can very easily
cause a parent, sibling, a significant other, and even a close friend to feel
saddened or unwelcomed. The usual normal day routines become more difficult as
the depression gets worse, and it is likely a person will no longer eat or go
out with friends. A person, who usually would have plans every other day, now
stays in bed sleeping because they are always exhausted. Though the person’s
inner circle of close relationships is not suffering from depression, they too
experience the lack of their daughter, sister, girlfriend, and friend. This can
lead to concern in parents, lack of interest from friends, and even arguments
in some cases from those close to a person dealing with their unhappiness.
Examples
In
the year 2013, Daryl Brown, a 26-year-old who had been suffering from
depression since he was nearly 12, stepped out in front of a train to end his
life (Freeman 2018). Five days after his birthday, he spent eight weeks in the
hospital and a rehab center with both his legs amputated. Daryl Brown is not
the only person suffering with depression who has tried to commit suicide, the
majority of people who have depression do, in reality “increase the suicide
risk compared to people without depression” (DCD 2015). Daryl felt like a
failure in every aspect of his life and couldn’t think of anything else to try
to change to cure his depression, he was out of options and exhausted. Daryl
didn’t want to burden his family with his issues, so he kept to himself
instead, he felt everyone was better off without him and decided to end his
life. Another story involves Alexandrea Holder, a woman who grew up coping with
her mother’s depression, though as a young girl didn’t realize depression even
existed. One day when she was in eighth grade, she came home to an empty house
searching for her mother and brother, only to be intervened by one of her
mothers best friends. The story she was given at such a young age was how her
“mother sent a letter to her best friend, saying she wanted to kill herself and
that she would take [her] brother and [herself] with her in the process” soon
after, the mothers best friend called the police, and Alexandra’s mother was
institutionalized for the safety of herself and her children (Holder 2019).
Throughout Alexandra’s life, she realized her mother was off, she
subconsciously “always knew something wasn’t right” because her mother only
said she loved her when it correlated to something positive, mainly scholarly.
Even then, her mother would sound hollow
while saying she loved her, “like it was practiced; expected” (Holder 2019).
Once her mother was institutionalized, the psychologists diagnosed her with
chronic, severe depression. Alexandra would only come to find years later how
her mother was abused up until halfway through high school, which may have been
the cause of her severe depression. Alexandra basically grew up without a
mother her whole life. Before her mother was institutionalized, her mother was
never truly existing and once she was put in the mental care facility, she
could only see her mother a few times a month and yet her mother was still
incoherent due to the “powerful antidepressants they prescribed her” (Holder
2019). Losing someone without them actually leaving the earth is how depression
can affect a household majorly. Losing all sense of reality is prevalent in
many of those suffering from depression, whether it be isolating themselves,
self-harm, or suicide, depression really takes a person and pulls them so far
down into isolation, they just want to disappear because it’s the only way they
are able to cope. Depression is truly a mental problem and if we want to ease
the state of mind people with depression experience, we need to find other
sources of solutions.
Solutions
Since
depression is a critical medical condition, numerous amounts of treatments have
been found in order to make the symptoms of even those with the severest case
of depression less damaging. Some of these treatments involve therapy,
lifestyle changes, and medication, which is the most common type. Even though
these treatments can possibly help a person overcome depression. Rarely have
they ever completely rid someone of the illness since depression is such an
overwhelming condition and patients can easily relapse after treatments. The
most important solution when trying to treat depression is realizing what sort
of depression one has. In order to treat the illness, the severity of it must
be examined first, “the more severe the depression, the more intensive the
treatment” (Saisan 1). Also, when learning more about the sort of depression
one has, it’s important to know how one solution may work for one person but
not the other.
One
treatment involves changing one’s lifestyle into a healthier and more balanced
one. All of which involve exercise, social support, nutrition, sleep, and
stress reduction (1). Research shows how exercise can potentially alleviate
depression and can even be as effective as taking antidepressants. James
Blumenthal, a clinical psychologist at Duke University discovered evidence from
broad population-based correlation studies and stated there’s good
epidemiological data to suggest that active people are less depressed than
inactive people” (Weir 1). Exercising releases the feel-good endorphins, which
can enhance a person’s sense of well-being. It can also allow more social
interaction by giving people the chance to meet others, which is another
important solution to depression. Social support is a vital part of overcoming
depression, because talking with friends regularly and going out often reduces
the key risk factor of isolation in the mental illness. Studies show how
“people who are clinically depressed report lower levels of social support than
people who are not currently depressed” (Fairbrother 1). Without the support of
social communication, those with chronic symptoms are most likely to worsen. Other
solutions involve the necessary vitals to life, such as nutrition and sleep.
Those suffering from depression tend to consume more, less, or no food at all
whilst dealing with the illness as well as lacking energy due to not sleeping.
However, some with depression sleep for long periods of time and even through
entire days. Yet always have the feeling of drowsiness, which is just what the
illness does. Eating well is important for a person’s physical and mental
health and having well-balanced meals throughout the day will keep a person’s
energy up while minimizing mood swings. Sleeping also causes strong effects on
mood whether they be good or bad. One’s depression symptoms can worsen just
from lack of sleep. “Sleep deprivation exacerbates irritability, moodiness,
sadness, and fatigue”, so getting enough sleep every night is an easy way to
cope with worsening symptoms (1). The final change to a healthy lifestyle to
cope with depression is a reduction in stress. Finding ways to minimize the
impact of things which stress a person out can help minimize the depression. Too
much stress can lead to an increase in symptoms and can even lead to a future
carried out by depression.
The
most advertised source for treating depression mainly involves the prescribing
of antidepressants, however, it is not the most effective source of treatment.
Antidepressants are “designed to balance chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the
brain that affect mood and emotions” (Smith 1). The medications promise “a
quick and simple method of relief” (1). But, sadly antidepressants come with a
series of side effects and most people who take them eventually slip back into
their depression. The United States Food and Drug Administration requires all
depression medication to include a warning label over the increased risk of
suicide in children and young adults because there is a threat in some people.
The antidepressant medication will cause an increase in depression, rather than
a decrease causing the rates of suicide to grow. Moreover, studies show the
“benefits of antidepressants have been exaggerated, with a growing number of
researchers concluding that – when it comes to mild to moderate depression –
antidepressants are no more effective than placebos” (1). Taking medication for
depression creates a bigger opening for the depression to become stronger
rather than disappearing and causes worsening effects. Nevertheless, some
people find benefits to taking the medication, but it’s rarely the mediation
alone. Most decide to take the medication as well as meet with a therapist to
cope with their depression, which leads to the next and final solution of
psychotherapy.
A
final solution to treating depression involves therapy or psychotherapy. This
helps a person dealing with depression step back and see what might be causing
their depression and are allowed to talk it out and find ways to push forward
and leave the gloomy feelings behind. There are three common methods used in
treating depression all of which include “cognitive behavioral therapy,
interpersonal therapy, and psychodynamic therapy” (1). Many times a blended
approach is used between the three types. What one learns in therapy gives them
an upper hand in preventing their depression from coming back and helps them to
feel better on an everyday basis rather than only a few days a week. Therapy
teaches one the practical techniques to positive thinking and creates a certain
behavior skill which fights the depression within a person. It helps a person
understand the root of their depression and how to avoid it in the long run. However,
most depression cannot be solved with just talk therapy.
However,
a new study from the United Kingdom discovered how both talk therapy and
medications may be helpful to those who have no response with just certain
medications. “Up to two-thirds of people with depression don’t respond fully to
antidepressant treatment, and the findings suggest a way to help this group”,
the researchers of the study stated (Rettner 1). The study followed patients
for one year and included about 470 people dealing with depression who had not
responded after six weeks of antidepressants treatment. Half of the people
began talk therapy sessions while the other half continued the antidepressants
without the talk therapy. After six months of the different treatments, “about
46 percent of patients in the talk therapy group experienced at least a 50
percent reduction in their depression symptoms” (1). In contrast, “22 percent
of people in the antidepressant group improved by the same amount”, showing how
both groups experienced similar rates of improvement, but the patients having
both the talk therapy treatment and the antidepressants had a higher success
rate in depreciating their symptoms (1). There are many solutions to treating
depression, however most people who have the illness must figure out for
themselves which treatment or treatments work bests for themselves.
Camus and Absurdity
Albert
Camus made a bold claim on the meaning of life: “there isn’t one and we can’t
make one either” and his entire philosophy is based on the idea of the absurd
(Hendricks 1). Camus wrote an essay about Sisyphus, the Greek king who was
punished to push a large rock up a steep hill, only to discover the rock
rolling back once nearing the top. Camus refers to him as the existential hero,
who stayed upbeat during his suffering, since Sisyphus was believed to push the
rock tirelessly until eternity. Camus stated “we must imagine Sisyphus happy”
because for the king to carry out a life as meaningless as ever, which is what
Camus believed in, the hero must find enjoyment in the most substantial way (1).
Sisyphus relates to the idea of depression because “alienation can be paired
with elation” (Kramer 1). Pushing the rock up the hill all alone for the rest
of eternity correlates to people suffering from depression. Carrying a boulder
with them their entire life yet trying to find some way to be happy again.
People suffering from depression usually have thoughts of living a meaningless
life and see no point in living, which causes suicide. For many people, a life
without meaning is not a life worth living. Despite these feelings, Camus was
not a firm nonbeliever in acts of killing oneself, he believed suicide is no
use to humans, “as there can be no more meaning in death than in life”
(Hendricks 1). Overall, Camus believed in the absurdity of how it is impossible
for humans to find a response to the meaning of life relating to thoughts one
feels when dealing with depression. His essay on Sisyphus points out the facts
of how one can attempt to make the most of a terrible situation, which can be
matched to people with depression attempting every possible way to be happy. But
all people with depression are not cruel kinds being punished, they are just
average people living their normal meaningless lives as Camus believed. Camus
would entirely believe people with depression need to find happiness or meaning
into their life. Nonetheless he would not know exactly what meaning there is to
find.
Depression
is an illness which has taken over the lives of many. The majority of these
people attempt to fight the symptoms off, but rarely succeed without the help
of others. Most dealing with the illness stay tucked away inside their own
minds, because they believe they aren’t worthy of speaking with others.
Isolation is a huge effect of depression and if others want to help, the first
ways of contributing would be noticing when a person is suffering. Since
depression has become common, there are more methods to help people suffering
from it and the treatments have come a long way. Though there still are some
such as antidepressants which continue to worsen the illness. As the world
progresses, more people will know symptoms of depression. Hopefully, it can be
treated before it attacks, takes a mother away from her children, or consumes a
young adult with a bright future ahead of them.
Works Cited
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Fairbrother, Nichole. “Social Support.” Social Support | Here to Help, 2011,
www.heretohelp.bc.ca/visions/social-support-vol6/social-support.
Freeman,
Mandy. “'I Tried to Kill Myself – I Lost My Legs but I Gained a New Life'.” Health24,
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