“What’s wrong?” That was the most common question that was programmed in me to answer with just a simple, “Nothing.” But it wasn’t nothing. No. There were many things that were wrong, but I was too afraid of letting my problems be known. I had many qualms that kept me from acting my usual self. At first, I didn’t see it. I thought that the people close to me were just over exaggerating their concern for me. But as time passed, it became more apparent. I had severe depression. There are multiple types of depressions people may experience throughout their lifetime. Severe depression, persistent depressive order, bipolar disorder, seasonal affective disorder, psychotic disorder, peripartum depression and many others. I was diagnosed with major depression two years ago and I still struggle today navigating my life and trying not to let my doubts affect my aspirations. The first time I went to a psychiatrist was when I was fifteen. My mother told me that I needed to see someone and talk about my problems, I was in denial at first. The first thought that came to mind when I heard that was, “I don’t need help.”I was so angry that my own mother signed me up for something that I didn’t even agree to. When we were outside of the building, I refused to get out of the car. I told her, “I’m not going to talk to someone …show more content…
I rather see it as something that has molded me into the person that I have become to be today. No matter what misconceptions that takes control of my thoughts, I still try to see that there is still good to what the world has to offer. I am a crusader for the suicidal, the anxiety-ridden, the depressed, and the bullied. We are not broken, damaged, or in need to be cured. Sometimes all we need is a kind word and a shoulder to cry on, without the questions and judgements. And when things take a turn, we chant these four words to ourselves, “Everything will be
Most of the population today, mainly the younger generations, do not know exactly how good they have it or how much worse the quality of life can be. Personally, I’ve been fortunate enough in my life to not have experienced too many hardships. It was a real eye-opener for me after my interview with Mary Fowler, Great Depression survivor. She has been a close friend to my grandmother for as long as I can remember, but I have never heard her real story.
Depressive disorders take on different forms. There are three common types of depressive disorders. They are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Major depression is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with an individual's ability to work, study, sleep, and eat. Symptoms include but are not limited to the following: persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood, feelings of hopelessness, feelings of guilt, helplessness, worthlessness, decreased energy, fatigue, appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain, ...
When I think about the moments leading up to my diagnosis I remember feeling weak, confused, shaky and sleepy. I did not notice that I had began sleeping throughout the day. My body was craving soft drinks like soda and juice but not food. Days would go by and I eventually fell into a deep slumber that I found myself only waking up from to use the bathroom. I knew something was wrong and that if I did not get to a hospital it would get worse. Nothing could have prepared me for the life changing diagnosis I would receive.
Overcoming an addiction to alcohol can be a long and bumpy road. Many people feel that it is impossible to overcome an alcohol addiction. Many people feel that is it easier to be an addict than to be a recovering addict. However, recovering from alcoholism is possible if one is ready to seek the help and support they need on their road to recovery. Recovery is taking the time to regain one’s normal mind, health and strength. Recovery is process. It takes time to stop the alcohol cravings and pressure to drink. For most, rehab and professional help is needed, while others can stop drinking on their own. Recovery never ends. After rehab, professional help or quitting on your own, many people still need help staying sober. A lot of time, recovering
In this article, Sally Buchanan-Hagen chooses to tell about a time in her life when she wishes she was more aware about mental health. She explains how she had her first depressive episode when she was 14 years of age, and how four years later she had her first hypomanic along with manic episodes. She tells the sad truth of not even knowing what depression was when she was in high school and that she always used to feel unhappy all the time, wanting to die. Hagen thought something must’ve been abnormally wrong with her, so she decided to hide her feelings. At her school, there was no mental health awareness and not so much at her university either. No one seemed to notice her odd elevated moods. Having awareness of mental health is extremely
To begin, a major stressor in my life is the admission procedure and being accepted into Florida A&M University’s Nursing Program. Throughout my college years, I’ve worked extremely hard to reach this goal. However, the thought of the program only selecting fifty students, including international students, frightens me. The amount of students being limited causes me to stress the thought if I’m rejected; I’ve wasted my years and money on courses that cannot benefit me. On top of that, I would have to find a new major to get into, and start the process of perquisites all over again. In addition, another reason that terrifies me is when getting tested through an interview process. Personally, I struggle with
It’s amazing how a horrific and negative life changing event can encourage and guide you in the path of your future. The end result may not be visible when it first takes place, but the process of a recovery can be extremely educational. You see, I was provided the opportunity of job shadowing firsthand the fields of athletic training and physical therapy due to a knee injury. I believe the majority of people would consider a severely damaged knee a dramatic setback in life. I was able to find the silver lining during the recovery.
Everything was always bleak, I forced people away, doing group projects solo, ignoring the attempts of conversation. I knew that it was destructive, but at the same time didn’t care. Eventually, after months of anxiety induced nausea and vomiting I went to a general family doctor. This was both a good step forward and a bad choice, good in that I was finally seeking help, but bad in that I didn’t seek a proper specialist. After 15 minutes I walked out with a script feeling no better that
Regardless of the person whether male or female who has developed the symptoms of depression, their lives have been invaded by a sickness that can have a devastating effect on their lives; depending on how severe their symptoms are. If left untreated the end result could have an even more devastating effect. Luckily, there are treatments available that are successful.
Using narratives to gain an insight into human experience is becoming an increasingly popular method of exploration. Assuming that people are in essence narrative beings that experience every emotion and state through narrative, the value of exploring these gives us a unique understanding. Narrative is thought to act as instrument to explore how an individual constructs their own identity (Czarniawska, 1997) and explain how each individual makes sense of the world around them (Gabriel, 1998). It may also give us an understanding into individual thought processes in relation to individual decision making practices (O’Connor, 1997). It is evident from studies such as Heider and Simmel (1944), that there appears to be an instinctive nature in people to introduce plots structures and narratives into all situations, with an intention to construct meaning to all aspects of life in its entirety. The value of narrative is that it is a tool that allows us to understand what it means to be human and gives us an insight into a person’s lived experience whilst still acknowledging their cultural and social contexts. Narrative is thought to be significance as it is ‘a fruitful organizing principle to help understand the complex conduct of human beings (p.49)’ (Sarbin, 1990) The construction of a person’s narrative is thought to be dependent on each person’s individual awareness of themselves and the circumstances that surround them. However, a debate to whether a person is able to formulate a valid narrative in the face of a mental illness such as schizophrenia has emerged. Sufferer’s symptoms are often thought to interfere with their abilities to perceive within a level deemed acceptable to their society’s norms and therefore the validity ...
Depression is quiet. I had learned that at the beginning of high school when all of the sudden, my self-depreciating thoughts had gone silent. The feeling of elation I had experienced that moment was mighty. I felt that it was too good to be true, that there was no way that I had freed myself of the depression I experienced since my childhood. And I was right. I learned that silence was deafening, it was louder than any of the hateful words I told myself.
It had come to the attention of my family that I had some sort of psychological problem and something had to be done. I was always labeled as a shy and quiet kid, and like my family I had thought nothing more of my behavior. However, now it had become something more obvious. I had told my parents the kinds of problems I was having. Basically I didn't want to talk to anyone or to be anywhere near anyone I didn't know. I didn't really want to leave my house for any reason for fear that I might have to talk to someone. I was so critical and scrutinizing in relation to myself that I couldn't even enter into a conversation. Everyone seems to have a part of themselves that lends itself to thoughts of pessimism and failure, but mine was something that was in the forefront of my mind at all times. Something telling me that everything I did was a failure, and that anything I ever did would not succeed. Through discussion with my family it was decided that I should move out of my parents house to a place where I could find treatment and get a job. I was to reside with my sister Lisa, her partner Brynn, and their Saint Bernard in Greensboro.
In my teenage years, most of my time was spent in school, and after I left there I would come home to a strung out mother that would be ranting and raving about dishes that needed to be done and telling me about how I was her biggest mistake, and that I was nothing but a lazy, hopeless loser, which I knew wasn’t true, but when you are a child the thoughts just run through your head over and over like a bad dream that you cannot wake up from. During that time, I had to find a way to break out. She would never let me leave the house unless it was to go to school, so I would leave at seven every morning and not return until midnight or later because I couldn’t face the beatings anymore. I began to heavily use drugs and try to escape to a place without pain and fear. Unfortunately, I knew that when I did come home, that I was really in for it. I remember that when my mother was angry her normal hazel eyes would turn into a tornado of green fury. A few of ...
Major Depression is a type of depression that makes you lose interest in activities you usually enjoy, you have lack energy, trouble concentrating, you change your eating and sleeping habits, you become extremely sad most of the time and have thoughts of suicide. You will probably be diagnosed sooner, if you suffer from this, because in a short amount of time you will be a completely different person, if you’re usually a happier person in general. In order to be diagnosed these symptoms...
It was dark that night, I was nervous that this dreadful day was going to get worse. Sunday, October 23, 1998 I wanted to start writing this to tell about the weird things i’m starting to see in this new neighborhood. Gradually I keep seeing pots and pans on the sink suddenly move to the floor. I would ask my sister but she is out with my mom and dad getting the Halloween costumes. When they got home I didn’t tell them what I saw because i've seen Halloween movies and I have to have dissimulation otherwise the ghost will come out and get me first. October 24, 1998 I think I got a little nervous yesterday with the whole ghost thing. 12:32pm, Went to eat lunch with the family today and I go to get my coat. I heard the words furious and madness,