Traveling back to the second
millennium B.C. in Mesopotamia, the earliest accounts of depression were not
thought of as normal, in fact, they were as being spiritual. Demonic
possessions, being treated by priest instead of physicians (Schimelpfening).
Jumping to a Greek physician named Hippocrates, he was credited saying
depression was caused by an unbalance in body fluids (1). In contrast, around
the same time, a Roman philosopher known by Cicero believed melancholia, deep
sadness or as it was considered, a mental condition marked by persistent
depression caused by psychological causes. Right before the common era, most
“educated” Romans believed depression and other similar mental illnesses were
caused by demon possession or by the rage of the gods (1).
During the middle ages, religion
started to influence and dominate the way many Europeans thought. Claiming that
the illnesses were caused supernaturally, like by demonic possession and many
were locked up in asylums. During the Renaissance, in 1621, author Robert
Burton wrote a book Anatomy of Melancholy, in which he outlined the
causes for the depression. That it was caused by not only psychological but
social problems as well (1). Taking a step forward, it seemed as if we took two
steps back with the Age of Enlightenment as they viewed depression as a
weakness and that the patients should be locked up. As the Age of Enlightenment
was coming to end, some doctors believed rage and anger was the root of the
illness others thought it was internal conflicts between the patient and his
own mind (1).
The question might be, how do we see
depression today? At the end of the 19th century, Emil Kraepelin noticed there
couldn’t just be a single type or reason for depression and acknowledged manic
depression which today is known as bipolar disorder (1). Just 22 years later
Sigmund Freud wrote how melancholia could be caused by physical or mental loss,
like the death of a loved one or failing at a goal. That this loss could lead
to self-hate and anger at his own self (1). Around this time as well, some
doctors believed to be a mental disorder, being closer to what we think today.
Our understanding of depression today is that there are multiple factors that
could lead to depression, being a genetic, the mind and even from society.
Depression
and someone with depression shouldn’t be seen as less than anyone else.
Individuals shouldn’t hide it especially to friends, the ones that care and
will be there for you, as it could affect your inner circle. If the one with
depression feels as if they can’t open up it could lead to what’s called
smiling depression. Smiling depression is as the name says, it’s seeming to be
happy and smiling through the pain and keeping those feelings hidden (Coward).
This is not a good thing or a healthy way of dealing with it as there was a
clear connection between smiling depression and suicide (1). It’s as if they’re
holding the weight of the world on their shoulders, trying to keep it locked
away not knowing it was a failure from the beginning and everything would be
released worse than before. It could deeply affect your inner circle, as every
single one is worried for them, and especially when the relationship to suicide
is high you never know if it’ll happen and just hope for the best.
Depression
not only could affect inner circles but the nation as a whole as well. Like
previously mentioned earlier teens simply hide or try to ignore their
depression. Are we not worried about the next generation? The future of the
nation will soon depend on us, the next generation. Teens simply are slow in
acknowledging warning signs, as if it was normal (Sugarman). In the past decade
depression in teens, 12 through 17, has risen and continues to rise (1). Sooner
or later it has to be acknowledged and dealt with before the suicide rates rise
as well, more than they already have. Our siblings, cousins, classmates could
be depressed and they’re not getting the attention they might need to help them
through it. The young adults of this country are in trouble as depression has
had a nationwide effect.
Unless we
have depression or have experienced some sort of deep depression in the past,
we don’t really know how they feel as each case affects everyone differently as
well. “It’s interesting trying to explain the agony that depression brought
into my life to people who are not depressed.” “ You can't tell someone is
depressed just by looking at them.”
Quotes from a woman, Rosalind, with depression (Time to Change). This
backs up the claim earlier, they may seem like everyone else but deep inside
they’re going through their own battles and we’re clueless of their struggle.
At times when we try to help it’s difficult as even they are lost themselves,
feel as if no one understands them. Even though over the years our knowledge of
depression has improved, it’s still not acknowledged as it should be. Another
example is a horrible experience to Jamil from his employer quoting, “When I
said it was depression, my managers started laughing at me. This made me feel
like a joke. My depression felt invalid (1).” For this exact reason, many are
hesitant to come out and express how they feel. As they think their depression
is irrelevant or that it simply doesn't matter when in reality it does. It's
time we all change and support those that have to go through depression, to
build them up instead of driving them through the dirt. To acknowledge them and
help them out of this traumatic situation.
We have yet
to find a perfect solution or cure for depression and I don’t think we ever
will as we might never truly understand it. Although we have various solutions
or methods of dealing with depression, like certain medication or psychological
treatments, everybody is different and what might work for someone might not
work for another. There are multiple forms of depression each a bit from the
other like anxious distress and bipolar disorder (Mayo Clinic Staff). As well
as different ways people decide to go about treating their depression, from
home remedies to actually prescribed medications. If the individual diagnosed
with depression decides to take prescribed medication they are aware with just
like any other drug there come side effects that may occur. Doctors usually
will start off by prescribing the patient selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs), as they are considered safer for first-time patients are
there are fewer side effects and are not as potentially severe (1). Just as
there are multiple forms of depression someone could have, the different types
of antidepressants there are and just like any other medication some respond
better or worse than others. In a TIME article by Alexandra Sifferlin, she
mentions that about a third of patients do not respond to treatment and when
they do work it usually takes a month or two to actually kick in and take
effect (Sifferlin). There are other options as well, someone might refuse to
take medications and result in a kind of
“home remedies.” Many change their lifestyle, eating better, exercise,
therapy, etc, or try to learn as much as they can on their type of depression
and if they do use medications, they don't solely rely on just that (Saisan, et
al.). Even if you aren’t diagnosed with depression we have all gone through
difficult times, times were it seems as we have no purpose, but you don’t
necessarily need medications. They’re multiple articles dedicated on natural
treatments for depression. In a WebMD article titled, 10 Natural Depression Treatments, it mentions little things
or changes from setting goals and getting more sleep to challenging your
negative thoughts (Griffin). When dealing with depression no one can say
something works perfect and something else never will as something that may
work for someone might not for another. We might not ever cure depression, but
it doesn’t mean you should carry it all on your shoulder, there is always
someone there whether it be friend or even a depression line you call.
One of Camus’ main belief was that
life had no meaning, so what was the point of living (Maguire). It’s quite a
depressing statement. Isn’t this how many with depression already feel?
Believing life already was pointless Camus might not even believe in depression
as that's how humanity should already be, without meaning or purpose. Would you
call its depression or his acceptance at a meaningless life, is depression the
same as absurd? Although depression is closely linked to suicide he was afraid
of the thought that suicide was the only answer to the absurdity of life (1).
Many of us find our purpose in life, whether it be by a dream job, religion, or
certain customs. In a way, the absurdity of life, depression, was simply life
for those who couldn't find their purpose.
Depression
is a real problem we need to address. This epidemic is growing rapidly and it
is certainly not a good thing that it’s linked to suicide. Life seems to be
better than a hundred years ago, yet more and more are falling into depression.
What environment will our next generation and our future country grow in?
Work Cited:
Amatenstein,
S. (2019). What Depression Feels Like: 10
Descriptions Shared and Explained. [online] PsyCom.net - Mental Health
Treatment Resource Since 1986. Available at: https://www.psycom.net/depression-what-depression-feels-like?slide=2#showbox.
Coward, L. (2019). What You Need to
Know About “Smiling Depression” | NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness.
[online] Nami.org. Available at: https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/September-2016/What-You-Need-to-Know-About-Smiling-Depression%E2%80%9D
"Depression (Major Depressive
Disorder) - Diagnosis And Treatment - Mayo Clinic". Mayoclinic.Org, 2019, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20356013.
Facts
& Statistics | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA.
[online] Available at: https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
Griffin, Morgan. "10 Natural
Depression Treatments". Webmd, 2019, https://www.webmd.com/depression/features/natural-treatments#1.
Maguire, Laura. "Camus And
Absurdity". Philosophy Talk, 2019, https://www.philosophytalk.org/blog/camus-and-absurdity.
Saisan, Joanna et al.
"Depression Treatment". Helpguide.Org, 2019, https://www.helpguide.org/articles/depression/depression-treatment.htm/.
Schimelpfening, N. (2019). When Were the Earliest Accounts
of Depression?. [online] Verywell Mind. Available at: https://www.verywellmind.com/who-discovered-depression-1066770
Sifferlin, Alexandra.
"Http://Time.Com". Time, 2019, http://time.com/5169013/antidepressants-more-effective-placebo-treating-depression/.
Sugarman, J. (2019). The Rise of
Teen Depression. [online] Johns Hopkins Health Review. Available at: https://www.johnshopkinshealthreview.com/issues/fall-winter-2017/articles/the-rise-of-teen-depression
Time To Change. (2019). Depression.
[online] Available at: https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/category/blog/depression
What
Is Depression?. Psychiatry.org. (2019). [online] Available at: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
Why
Today’s Teens Are More Depressed Than Ever Center For Discovery. (2019).-
Center For Discovery. [online] Available at:
https://centerfordiscovery.com/blog/todays-teens-depressed-ever/
https://centerfordiscovery.com/blog/todays-teens-depressed-ever/
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