hopeless
WHEN ALL SEEMS
By Rebecca Barat
Approximately 350 million people of all ages are suffering from depression globally . 1 If you think that number is large , studies suggest that after the holidays , when all talk is centered around new beginnings and improving ourselves , there is an increase of anxiety and depression . 2 Depression is not a fleeting emotional response or a mood swing , but rather , depending on the severity of the case , a persistent mental disorder lasting for a minimum of two consecutive weeks . It is not a temporary struggle , but a state of continuous sadness and at times agitation that steals your desire to live . 3
Depression affects the body , mind , and soul . It appears to be an impenetrable wall of suffering , which drains hope , energy , and drive . Life loses its value and daily activities such as going for a walk or talking to friends seem overwhelming . Although media seems to provide us with ways to connect with each other and produce happiness , the annual number of adolescents who have had one major depressive episode increased to 3 million last year . 4 In the world of Snapchat and Instagram , images of others experiencing happiness can increase feelings of inadequacy or shame in those who are bound by the chains of a mental disorder . Some of the most popular , wealthy , and beautiful members of society have committed suicide after succumbing to their hopelessness .
Despite the efforts of health professionals to raise awareness regarding depression , many people continue to internalize it due to its ongoing stigma in society and their reluctance to burden others with their struggles . I remember a mother of three small children telling me how her cheerful and hardworking
02