Depression Can Happen To Anyone

The recent deaths of Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade have once again thrust depression into the spotlight.  Depression does not play favorites. It does not care if you have fame and money. It is an equal opportunity problem. We can see people in public but that does not mean we know what is going on with them. Ever see someone smiling on Facebook? They may not actually be happy. We feel like we may know a public figure but we really know so little about them. Anthony Bourdain seemed like such a social person with a verve for life but that seemed to be hiding a much darker side. When Robin Williams died everyone asked how he could be depressed? He is rich, famous, and always seems so upbeat and happy. That is what you see on TV or the movies. The film is not rolling when he is having a depressive episode.

What Does Depression Look Like?

Depression can affect people in very different ways. It can have numerous variations. When depressed, I tend to withdraw and become emotionally numb but I am still able to manage my day to day activities. Most people would have difficulty telling I’m depressed. Your family member, friend, or coworker may feel depressed and you don’t even know it. Here are some of the main symptoms of which you should be aware:

1. A significant change in behavior of any type
2. Losing interest in activities
3. An increase or decrease in appetite and/or sleep
4. An increase or decrease in bodily energy
5. Feeling sad, irritable, empty, or numb
6. Difficulty concentrating
7. Social withdrawal
8. Lack of motivation

Please keep in mind that a depressed person may have a lot of these symptoms or only a few. You may have to look closely to see them because they are not all obvious, especially if you don’t see these people all the time. Two people may exhibit opposite behaviors and both may be depressed. For example, one person may sleep all day, another hardly at all. This is a complicated issue. People are not made with a cookie cutter.

What Can I Do?

If you think someone may be depressed, tell someone who can do something about it, like a close friend or family member. If it is a minor, you can also go to a school staff member. School personnel will take the threat of suicide very seriously. Talking to the depressed person is fine, but they are unlikely to act. A depressed person may feel too unmotivated to do anything about it themselves. In addition, a person that is truly suicidal wants to die. They are probably not going to tell you that they are suicidal. The key is to act before they get to that point. Sometimes a person will give a cry for help. This is them basically saying, “I’m thinking about suicide and I want you to help before I make up my mind for good”. For moderate to severe depression, seeing a therapist and/or someone who can prescribe medication is a good idea. You don’t want to fool around with the possibility of suicide. If you feel that a person is suicidal but they refuse help you can still act. Call 911 and a professional will assess them in an emergency room. Always better to be safe than sorry.  You don’t want to be that person that says, “I wish I knew and had been able to do something”.