| For many sufferers, depression brings on feelings of | | | | stop you from getting help. Just as your body can |
| guilt and shame and because of these feelings, they | | | | become ill so can your mind. It isn't permanent and |
| will not seek help. But are these feelings valid? Lack | | | | just as your body can be fixed so can your mind. |
| of understanding - both in sufferers and | | | | 5. Many sufferers believe that treating depression is a |
| non-sufferers - clouds the issue. So here's how to | | | | futile exercise because once you have depression, |
| end the stigma associated with depression, stress, | | | | you have it for life. This simply isn't true and the |
| and anxiety. | | | | depression itself feeds this feeling of helplessness. |
| 1. The majority of people in our society experience | | | | And believing that depression is incurable further |
| psychological problems during their lives: Problems | | | | exacerbates the feelings of guilt and shame and fuels |
| from childhood with parents and siblings; stress at | | | | the depression. Depression has a specific cause and |
| work; marital breakdown; losing loved ones and of | | | | this root cause can be effectively treated so that |
| course, making mistakes. Very few people go | | | | depression can be beaten once and for all. |
| through life without experiencing mental trauma of | | | | 6. Change the way you look at these problems. I |
| some description. So there's nothing odd or unique | | | | know from experience that at the time, stressful |
| happening here, indeed, depressive illnesses are as | | | | illnesses can be overwhelming and you can't see a |
| common as colds. More than 20 million sufferers in | | | | way out or how anything good can come of it. But |
| the USA every year bear this out. | | | | now, I'm glad I had that 5-year period because I've |
| 2. These are real illnesses. There's no stigma | | | | come out of it stronger. I learned how to beat |
| associated with diabetes, asthma, or allergies for | | | | depression and deal with the very trying |
| example, so why should there be with these? Just | | | | circumstances I was faced with. I now know how to |
| like the above illnesses, depression, anxiety and | | | | cope with the various trials and tribulations life throws |
| stress have specific causes that can be addressed. | | | | at all of us and those 5 years of depression and |
| You wouldn't think an asthma sufferer could just | | | | anxiety have given me a greater understanding about |
| "snap out of it", yet many people say this to | | | | myself and others. Sure I hated it at the time. But by |
| depression and anxiety sufferers. Lack of | | | | getting help and learning how depression had entered |
| understanding again causes such a reaction and it is | | | | my life, I became stronger than my depression. One |
| the reaction that is wrong, not the sufferer. | | | | thing that really helped me was to change the way I |
| 3. Suffering a depressive episode is not your fault so | | | | thought about what was happening to me. Instead |
| why feel guilty? You didn't wake up one morning and | | | | of thinking it was something that no good could ever |
| think "right, I know, I'll become anxious from now | | | | come from, I looked at it as something that was |
| on". It doesn't happen like that. No one CHOOSES | | | | going to help me to become stronger. What helped |
| depression, it can happen to people just like many | | | | me to think this way was discovering how many |
| illnesses do. And like other illnesses, depression can be | | | | other people used their illnesses and disabilities to do |
| treated very effectively. But not one sufferer is to | | | | something positive with their lives. I realized that the |
| blame. You wouldn't blame someone who hadn't been | | | | same principle could be applied to stressful and |
| taught to read or write, you wouldn't blame someone | | | | depressive illnesses and that they too can be used in |
| who suffered from hay fever so why blame yourself | | | | a positive way. |
| and feel guilty because you're suffering a stressful | | | | The above points clearly demonstrate that the |
| illness? | | | | stigmas associated with depressive and stressful |
| 4. If you own a car and it's broken down you go to | | | | illnesses are completely false and I hope you use |
| a mechanic. If you fall and break your arm, you go to | | | | them to help you win your fight with stress, |
| casualty to get it repaired. If you have toothache | | | | depression or anxiety. |
| you go to a dentist to get it sorted. Stressful | | | | Until next time. |
| illnesses can also be fixed, so don't let guilt or shame | | | | |