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