There is such thing as Anxiety and Depression

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Why is there Anxiety and Depression? Basically, I’m not really writing to answer that question because believe it or not, I’ve got no clue. I am writing to raise awareness, that indeed Anxiety and Depression really do exist in some people and at a highly different level with some people who just feels simply sad.

I’ve come across people who were utterly depressed. Some, I don’t even know until it’s over. Nowadays, people say they’re depressed out of the blue but we think it’s just over-reacting of some sort but who are we to really judge if we haven’t experienced it in the same way they did? Point being, anxiety and depression do exist.

Depression becomes that feeling that seems too uncontrollable, more like invincible – to the point when you don’t even know how it started. You just know that you’re in this deep black hole all of a sudden. So when we ask people who are truly depressed, they can’t quite give us a direct answer and at the back of their heads, they totally hate us for asking something they don’t even know what the answer is. And sometimes, they just start crying and feel miserable even more.

Well, there’s no really guaranteed right steps of helping people who are feeling depressed because really some feel they don’t want to be helped and some who do, don’t know how to start talking things out. But there are some important points that I’d like to share in case you’d really like to talk to people who are depressed:

1.  Don’t mention these lines – “It’s all in the head. Pull yourself together. Why are you feeling that? You’re so blessed. I don’t see anything wrong with you.” – While these lines are definitely true, those depressed don’t wanna hear those lines apart from the fact that a million people already told them that. Like seriously, pull yourself together? Do you think the person hadn’t tried that out? Like he/she simply succumbed to the feeling and didn’t do anything about it? Well, for some, maybe yes, but for others, I doubt it. It’s all in the head. It’s all in the heaaaad?? Then the person must really be crazy creating stupid things in his/her head. Don’t make the person feel miserable even more. A depressed person can’t really fathom things at the moment but telling the person it’s all in the head, wouldn’t really help. I don’t see anything wrong with you. Precisely! One of the reasons the person is depressed is people don’t effin’ notice it. Like how come the people they spend with everyday feels like they’re just fine but truly they are not. That’s when people depressed ask themselves, are there really people who truly know them?  
2. Just be with them – By being with them, I don’t mean you judge them and nag them on the littlest of things. Surely, you have your own shit going but I bet it’s nothing to people who thinks they are nearing crazy. If you think you still have full sanity despite all your troubles then be generous enough to spend some more time understanding or just empathizing with people you think are depressed. There is no better feeling than having people around to just be there and not put too much pressure in resolving depression. Because truly, it ain’t an easy task.
3. Show how much you love them more than ever – People depressed tend to be suicidal so it’s truly sweet and thoughtful for people to show them that they love them more than usual, that they love them before but they aren’t just that expressive but they’re expressing it now as a gesture of saying, Hang On. It helps a lot knowing there are other people who won't give up on you in a time when giving up is the only thing you'd ever think about.

I got depressed twice and the first time was a 9-month stretch. After that, I felt like I was reborn and boy was I so energetic. Until I hit rock bottom the second time, Gehd, I just wanna end it. So really, depression isn't some kind of joke. There is such thing as Anxiety and Depression. Know it. Learn in. Help others overcome it.

See also: Supporting Your Partner Through Depression