Living with depression means living without hope. The days march forward, with no joy in sight, and the situation seems permanent and unchangeable. For a person living in this state, the idea of therapy may be meaningless, as these people find it hard to believe that they’ll ever get better, no matter what they might do and no matter how much they might want things to change. The mental illness works as a blindfold, blocking the person’s vision of a happier and healthier future.
Statistics released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest that one adult in 10 is living in the midst of a depressive episode like this. Since these people simply can’t see the inherent value in entering a treatment program, their families often must take control and encourage the person to participate. That conversation can be difficult, but it also can be intensely valuable, as those people who do get help may see their sadness resolve, and their families may be restored to health in the process.
Most people who deal with depression struggle with the same cluster of symptoms. They might:
There are different subtypes of depression, however, and some of the differences involve the severity of symptoms. Those who have an episode of major depression, for example, experience debilitating symptoms for weeks on end, while those who have dysthymia may have mild symptoms that last for years.