What is it? How do you get it?
Depression is one of the most serious illnesses in the modern age. Coping with it, getting through it, and staying on an even keel, demands patience, strong willpower and plenty of outside help.
Most medical people say there are basically two types of depression: "Normal" depression, if you can call it normal, caused by a death in the family, a divorce, loss of a job or some great traumatic event. This is usually a short-lived illness.Then there is "Endogenous" depression which afflicts families from generation to generation, and is far more deep-seated. Scientists say that there are factors in depression that are unknown but they do know that the hereditary link has been proved. How does depression come about due to a chemical imbalance in the brain? In the hereditary sense it is possible that families pass this imbalance on to the next generation i.e. the chemical makeup in the brain is genetically inherited.
I have said before that I am not a medical person so I don't fully understand all aspects of depression. However, it does not take an expert to conclude that help is needed from all quarters as this is a serious disease.
As a depressive with a good success rate I can give the following advice to anyone who is suffering from the illness
or is a family member of a sick person.
To the depressed person I say:
--Don't hide your illness from your family. They are deeply involved.
--Try to find faith in God because He is a very important factor in your recovery. If you don't pray, start now. If you don't believe, start now. I cannot emphasise the importance of this.
--Go to hospital when asked. It will help.
--Take all the help you can get because you will get stronger. Maybe not now, but later.
To the families of a sick, depressed person I say:
---Get that person to a doctor immediately.
---Don't accept any excuses.
---Give support, don't criticise in any way.
---Make sure all orders are followed.
---Make sure any medication is taken--and in the prescribed dose.
---Stay optimistic.
It is not simple, it is not easy and there is a long road to recovery. But it can be done.