*Collaborative post.

Depression is the silence killer in current times. It is eating away the hearts and minds of many, and it is still being ignored as a serious mental illness by many. We may have had our own fair share of feeling low at various points in our lives, and this can give us a good idea of what living with depression can feel like. I know I have had many times in my life where I didn’t feel like getting out of bed or felt low for days, but I always bounce back. That is the difference. People who are suffering from depression don’t bounce back. The feeling of not getting out of bed or feeling low carries on for weeks, months even years.

Dealing with depression

The feeling of extended sadness can come as a result of losing someone, finance troubles, relationship issues, work problems or just general life struggles. When it comes to dealing with mental health illness, the first thing is to understand  what is causing the symptoms. Once you know what the trigger is, you are half way in solving the problem. It may be tricky at first to pinpoint the trigger or triggers if all sorts are happening at the same time, but once you do, it all starts to make sense why you feel the way you do.

The next step is to find someone you trust to confide in. A listening ear/sounding board always helps. The stigma associated with mental health is starting to wear off as more and more people talk about this invisible illness, so seek out a friend to open up to. You need to remember depression is an illness and not a sign of weakness.

Once you confide in someone you trust, the next thing to do is to see your doctor. If you are feeling depressed and struggling to get on with day to day activities like getting out of bed and cleaning up , you should go see a doctor immediately to get help. Asking for help is a sign of strength. It shows you know something is wrong and you are willing to do something about it.

Depression like many other mental health illness affects the entire body. It affects the way you eat, sleep or live. Which is why it eventually starts to take a toll on the body, and ends up leading to other illnesses if not treated.

Signs of Depression

Here are some of the common signs of depression –

• Consistent sad empty mood
• Loss of interest in hobbies/activities you once enjoyed.
• Insomnia or Hypersomnia
• Suicidal thoughts
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Irritability and Hostility
• Lack of appetite or overeating
• Feelings of hopelessness/worthlessness

These are just a few of the common signs of depression. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms you should get help. There are a number of ways of dealing with depression. Talk therapy with a psychologist is a way to treat depression. Using prescribed medication from your doctor is another way. A combination of both also works in some instances. The treatment varies from person to person. Which is why you have to get your own diagnosis if you feel you are showing signs of depression. You could find out how much therapy cost here.

There is a lot to be said about our mental health and I feel the more we talk about, the more the stigma wears off. There is no shame in having any illness and we need to remember that.