LIVING WITH DEPRESSION (Major Depressive Disorder)

Summary

In this deeply personal video, the speaker opens up about their long battle with depression and anxiety, sharing how these disorders began at a young age and have affected their life. They discuss the struggle of feeling numb, disconnected, and empty for years, despite efforts to find happiness or relief. The speaker highlights their journey toward therapy and diagnosis, the importance of seeking help, and the impact of feeling alone in their mental health struggles. Through their raw and honest reflection, they aim to make others feel less isolated and encourage seeking support and understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Mental health struggles, such as anxiety and depression, often begin early in life and can be influenced by life events and personal experiences.
• 😀 The speaker experienced a deep sense of emptiness and hopelessness starting at the age of 9, leading to long-term mental health challenges.
• 😀 Feeling alone and misunderstood is a common symptom of depression, making it harder to communicate or reach out for help.
• 😀 Despite seeking help from therapists and doctors, it can be difficult to accept medication or treatment, especially when family and close ones are hesitant.
• 😀 Many people with depression feel emotionally numb or detached from their surroundings, making it challenging to find meaning or purpose in daily life.
• 😀 Faking happiness and pretending to be okay can become a survival mechanism, and others may never notice the struggle beneath the surface.
• 😀 Social media and societal pressures can exacerbate feelings of inadequacy and emptiness, particularly when the focus is on materialistic achievements.
• 😀 Finding moments of connection and helping others, even in small ways, can provide fleeting moments of genuine fulfillment and purpose.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of checking in on people who may be struggling, as well as seeking professional help when dealing with mental health issues.
• 😀 It's important to acknowledge that healing takes time, and that seeking help is a crucial step towards managing mental health challenges.
• 😀 The speaker advocates for opening up about personal struggles to reduce the stigma around mental health and create a supportive environment for others.

Q & A

What is the central theme of the speaker's message in this video?

The central theme is the speaker's ongoing struggle with anxiety and depression, and their decision to share this experience with others in the hope of making people feel less alone and encouraging them to seek help.

How does the speaker describe their experience with depression and anxiety?

The speaker describes feeling numb for about half of their life, experiencing emptiness and hopelessness. They also mention feeling disconnected from activities, tasks, and even relationships, and sometimes forcing themselves to appear happy when they are not.

What was the turning point for the speaker in seeking help for their mental health?

The turning point came when the speaker began therapy in September 2019, after years of dealing with depression and anxiety. They were diagnosed with major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

Why did the speaker initially hesitate to take prescribed medication?

The speaker hesitated to take the prescribed medication, Trellix, after their family convinced them not to take it. Despite initially feeling relieved after their psychiatrist's appointment, they didn't go back for further treatment.

What is the impact of not feeling understood by others on the speaker's mental health?

The speaker feels isolated and alone when their mental health struggles are not understood by those closest to them. This lack of empathy and support from others exacerbates their depression and anxiety.

How does the speaker cope with the feeling of not being able to enjoy activities?

The speaker copes by pushing through activities, but the enjoyment is often absent. They describe forcing themselves to engage in social situations and tasks, often focusing on external validation or content creation rather than being present in the moment.

What does the speaker mean by 'wearing a mask'?

By 'wearing a mask,' the speaker refers to pretending to be happy and hiding their true feelings. They become so skilled at it that even those close to them, such as family and friends, cannot tell that the speaker is struggling.

What is the speaker’s perspective on how mental health should be addressed publicly?

The speaker feels that by sharing their mental health struggles openly, they can help others who are going through similar experiences. They believe it's important to show vulnerability and discuss mental health candidly to reduce stigma and foster understanding.

How does social media impact the speaker’s mental health?

Social media exacerbates the speaker’s feelings of inadequacy, as they are constantly exposed to idealized images and materialistic representations of happiness. Despite knowing that these things don’t bring real happiness, the speaker struggles with the pressure to conform to these standards.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of seeking help?

The speaker emphasizes seeking help because going through mental health struggles alone has only brought them more pain. They believe that therapy and having someone to check in on you is crucial for overcoming these challenges and not staying isolated.