Depression is a reality that many people still misunderstand. There are many prejudices and misconceptions about it. That is why it is important for us to learn to understand it instead of judging people who live with it.
Depression does not always show on a person’s face. A person can smile, work, help others, attend church, care for their family, and continue with daily activities while suffering silently.
Depression can manifest through:
Persistent sadness
Severe fatigue
Lost of interest in things the person once enjoyed
irritability or anger
difficulty concentrating
changes in sleep or appetite
feelings of hopelessness
wanting to be alone
Depression does not have only one face or one way of appearing. It is not like a uniform that everyone wears the same way. It is different for each person.
The way depression appears in one person’s life can be completely different from the way it appears in another person’s life. Likewise, one person’s reaction to depression is not necessarily the same as another person’s reaction.
That is why we should not say, “I went through the same thing, so this is how you should feel too.” Even if we have lived through a similar experience, that does not mean the situation, the pain, or the way the person experiences it is the same.
Depression Does Not Mean:
You Are Weak
Depression does not mean you are abnormal.
It does not mean you are a bad Christian.
It does not mean you do not have faith.
It does not mean you do not pray enough.
It does not mean you are not fighting.
It does not mean you are a coward or weak.
It does not mean you are not a good man or a good woman.
It does not mean you are crazy.
It does not mean that an evil spirit is upon you.
Some people spend enormous amounts of energy doing things that seem simple to others: getting out of bed, bathing, getting dressed, going to work, answering a message, or caring for their children.
What we see on the outside does not always reveal the battle the person is fighting inside.
The person who smiles may be very tired. The person who always encourages others may also need encouragement
Action:
It is time for us to stop judging and discriminating against people living with depression.
Do not make someone feel different, inferior, or guilty because of what they are experiencing. Do not label them, ridicule them, or treat them as though they are incapable of doing anything.
We should not measure a person’s pain only by what we see on the outside. We do not know the battle they are fighting inside or how much pain they carry each day.
Before asking someone why they are not better yet, ask them with love: “How are you, really?”
Ask yourself these questions before judging others:
Is my comment necessary?
Is it fair?
Is it true?
