In class we learned about mood disorders which is when a person experiences emotion that are extreme and abnormal. This includes depression and bipolar disorder. Depression is two weeks or more of a few of these symptoms: lethargy and tiredness, feelings of worthlessness, or loss of interest. Depression can run in the family (genetic influence), be the result of reduced levels of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin, or that it arises from self-defeating beliefs and negative explanatory styles. We also learned about psychotherapy which is a confiding interaction between a trained therapist and a patient. And depression is the most common reason people seek professional help.
In my own experience, I have seen close friends of mine suffer from depression. As a friend, I have listened to their problems and observed their behavior and mindset. For example, if a minor issue occurred, my friend would act as if it was the end of the world whereas I could see that it would pass. This emphasizes the differences in mindsets, that is a result from depression. Also, it would always be difficult to talk them out of their negative thinking, because their mind were set like that. Now I understand our brains were different, where her levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that contributes to feelings of well-being and happiness, were reduced and mine were normal. I also noticed how their moods could quickly change from “happy” to withdrawn and down like a flip of a switch. My friends have underwent therapy and from a friends’ perspective, I believed it greatly helped. My friends were able to vent to therapist in ways they could no to me, as well as receive better advice. I have learned from the experience that all you can do is continue to support them and offer help, but other help is usually needed such as therapy or medication.
3 thoughts on “Depression: From a Friend’s Perspective”
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To start, you explained depression and its causes very well. I enjoyed how you put an emphasis on how depression affects the person in a depressive state greatly. For some reason, I feel as though society sees depression has a bad thing but doesn’t fully understand how the depressed person lives day to day. Though they are not exactly the same, I have had experiences similar to your own. I can agree with your experiences you have had with your friends. I, too, have friends that have mental disorders, such as anxiety. I have come across the same occurrences where I have had to be there for them mentally. I have had to offer advice and calm them in panic situations. You are right in that, we, as friends, can only do so much. At a point, professional help is needed for them to overcome whatever it is they are going through. Psychotherapy, particularly cognitive therapy, has positively affected my friend tremendously.
I felt the same way after sitting in on this lecture: one of my close friends had serious depression and during the lecture, I could easily understand the material as I could empathize with it. Depression, especially in college, seems to be a very prominent issue; however, people do not know how to spot someone with it. Rather, they just assume one is sad or upset. Depression is ongoing, as you stated, with symptoms of lethargy and loss of interest in things one used to be passionate about. When I was in UCLA two summers ago, I went with my friend who had depression in the past. I learned all about her struggles, triggers, and medications that she needs to keep her serotonin levels high at all times. People do not know internal feelings of other, and so, we all must be careful what we say so we are not the reason someone develops depression. It is best to spread kindness in this world and know what steps to take to guide someone out of depression, including medication, teary, and professional help.
I completely agree with you on the fact that you now understand depression much better. I always knew it was a chemical imbalance, but I never knew it was low levels serotonin and norepinephrine that could cause depression. I also agree with how you were able to realize how their mindset and way of thinking was generally negative and how anything could trigger them to go back into a depressed state. It’s difficult watching them go through it, but getting professional help often times is so important, along with supporting them as they go through it.