Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.
We all go through
spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed, you feel persistently sad for weeks or months rather than just a few
days.Some people still think that
depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong. Depression is a real illness with real symptoms,
and it's not a sign of weakness or something you can 'snap out of' by 'pulling yourself together'.
The
good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people can make a full recovery from depression.Disability is all in the eye of the beholder.
If someone has lost a limb or has some equally visible sign of a physical problem, the reaction is usually sympathetic. But
take away the more obvious visual clues, and how the general public will react becomes a lot less predictable. I am as blind
as a bat without my spectacles but short-sightedness is socially acceptable. Not everyone with a disability is so fortunate.
Everyone who has
a mental disorder will understand this. People who are depressed are told to 'get a grip' or 'snap out of it'
as if emotions can be controlled at will. Those who suffer from panic or anxiety attacks are labeled 'hysterical'
and 'unbalanced' which are hurtful words.The public does not understand the true nature of mental disorders. This can produce fear because people do
not know how to react if someone around them has an attack or because they think they may also be at risk of the same disorder.
Prejudice and cruelty are the result. These reactions amplify the problem for the victims.
If the disabled know
that people will mock or criticise them if they have an anxiety or panic attack, they are more likely to avoid situations
in which there may be stress.Carry this one step further and it becomes agoraphobia where they are too frightened to leave the house at
all.
There are millions of people who suffer
from anxiety and panic disorders, whether on their own or as a symptom of depression. To continue their everyday lives, they
rely on drugs. Let’s make a clear distinction. This is not like appearing on the X factor where contestants willingly
risk humiliation to search for fame and fortuneThis is mundane
existence: get through the door and drive to work to earn enough to live on. If that paycheck does not come at the end of
the month, this is financial disaster.
The advantage of drugs is that sufferers simply take a pill three or four
times a day and this controls the more obvious symptoms. They can then walk around, doing their jobs with no one any the wiser.This points to another aspect of the problem. No one likes to talk about these disorders. Even doctors have a reputation
for being less than supportive so looking for treatment becomes more stressful.There is always
the feeling that patients are being judged when they talk to others about how they feel. Research suggests that about 20%
of people with anxiety and panic disorders do not get help, the first step should be discussing the problems with a doctor.
Therapy and counseling
are the most reliable long-term 'cures' drugs simply keeps the symptoms at bay and should only be used over short
periods of time.But fear can affect people in another way. Even
though they may eventually accept the need to get treatment, they may also fear what the medications will do to their bodies.
Anxiety and panic are not necessarily 'rational'. No matter what evidence they may read or hear about safety, even
the slightest risk of side effects can seem daunting. Do we trust what our doctor tells us?
The explanation is that it takes time
and patience to follow a course of treatment and this allows people to fall prey to their anxieties. Many simply stop taking
the medication or take it too infrequently for it to work well. Prejudice in all of us can perpetuate anxiety and panic disorders.
Your GP may recommend
that you take a course of antidepressants plus talking therapy, particularly if your depression is quite severe.A combination of an antidepressant and CBT usually
works better than having just one of these treatments.
It is important to take your medication as prescribed, even if you start to feel better. Continuing with your medication
can help prevent a relapse and, in some cases, it is needed in the long term.
If you have any questions
or concerns about the medication you are taking or side effects, talk to your healthcare team.
