So, its been a while since I last posted. Part of this is due to my mental health and I thought when's a better time to talk about my mental health, specifically my depression, than now! This post is designed to share my story, help people feel less alone in their struggles, and raise awareness about mental illness & the less talked about areas.
Just before lockdown began in 2020, I was officially diagnosed with depression and general anxiety disorder. I have struggled with my mental health since I was 13, however due to stigmas, among other things, I kept this hidden from my family and was fearful of speaking to an adult about how I was feeling. I opened up to my close friends about it and they became a support system for me and I for them. While speaking to close friends about how I felt, it was not the answer to my problems. I needed to speak to a trusted adult about my problem, however that is easier said than done. It wasn't until a month before my 19th birthday that I opened up to an adult- my dad- about this. He supported me, took me to the doctors, and informed my mum about what was going on with me. Since then, both my parents have been ever so supportive of me and my struggles.
It is often forgotten that depression looks different for everyone. On my worst days, I struggle to get out of bed and get dressed. I often struggle to shower and brush my teeth, my appetite fluctuates between wanting nothing to eat for days, and wanting to eat constantly. My temper becomes short and I struggle to socialise and communicate with those around me. My room gets overwhelmed with mess- which is worsened by the fact that I don't cope well in messy environments. I lack motivation to do daily chores and tasks, and lose interest in doing the things I love. My concentration levels typically drop and I struggle to focus on anything more than a Disney film I have watched 100 times. However, this is just how my symptoms present themselves. For some, they may become hyper focused on tasks, clean constantly, or feel the need to be surrounded by people at all times.
Not only does depression present itself in different ways, it also requires different treatments. Personally, I have been in antidepressants since my diagnosis and have done two lots of CBT. For me, the first course of CBT helped in some ways, while the second didn't help at all. For many, antidepressants alone are the best treatment to maintaining their depression, others find therapy- whether this be CBT, talking therapies or another form- works best for them, and some find a combination of the two is best.
Depression is different for everyone, from the symptoms to the treatments. It is important to remember someone who looks happy all the time may not be. Remember you are never alone, there's always someone to talk to.
For help and advice, please visit the useful links page to find details of organisations that can help.
Just before lockdown began in 2020, I was officially diagnosed with depression and general anxiety disorder. I have struggled with my mental health since I was 13, however due to stigmas, among other things, I kept this hidden from my family and was fearful of speaking to an adult about how I was feeling. I opened up to my close friends about it and they became a support system for me and I for them. While speaking to close friends about how I felt, it was not the answer to my problems. I needed to speak to a trusted adult about my problem, however that is easier said than done. It wasn't until a month before my 19th birthday that I opened up to an adult- my dad- about this. He supported me, took me to the doctors, and informed my mum about what was going on with me. Since then, both my parents have been ever so supportive of me and my struggles.
It is often forgotten that depression looks different for everyone. On my worst days, I struggle to get out of bed and get dressed. I often struggle to shower and brush my teeth, my appetite fluctuates between wanting nothing to eat for days, and wanting to eat constantly. My temper becomes short and I struggle to socialise and communicate with those around me. My room gets overwhelmed with mess- which is worsened by the fact that I don't cope well in messy environments. I lack motivation to do daily chores and tasks, and lose interest in doing the things I love. My concentration levels typically drop and I struggle to focus on anything more than a Disney film I have watched 100 times. However, this is just how my symptoms present themselves. For some, they may become hyper focused on tasks, clean constantly, or feel the need to be surrounded by people at all times.
Not only does depression present itself in different ways, it also requires different treatments. Personally, I have been in antidepressants since my diagnosis and have done two lots of CBT. For me, the first course of CBT helped in some ways, while the second didn't help at all. For many, antidepressants alone are the best treatment to maintaining their depression, others find therapy- whether this be CBT, talking therapies or another form- works best for them, and some find a combination of the two is best.
Depression is different for everyone, from the symptoms to the treatments. It is important to remember someone who looks happy all the time may not be. Remember you are never alone, there's always someone to talk to.
For help and advice, please visit the useful links page to find details of organisations that can help.