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Hannah Krumholtz

Professor Leonard

English Composition II

27 October 2021

How To Make It Through The Day.

Depression is a really scary thing. You are always told to watch for cars when you cross

the street, or to never take candy from strangers, even the good ole’ “don’t run with scissors”

talk, but no one ever warns you about yourself. A frightening fact about suicide is that it is the

10th leading killer in the US, nearly 800,000 die by suicide in the world each year. Mental health

is a real problem and it’s not talked about nearly enough. As a Highschool student it can be hard

to get up in the mornings and it is even harder to make it through the day. The monotony life is

so draining that some days all I want to do is hide. Depression affects millions of people yet

many can't afford therapy or other treatments. I personally started going to therapy my

sophomore year after I was diagnosed with depression and anxiety. Learning that I was

struggling ended up being the biggest blessing of my life because I am now able to treat it.

Lockdown sent many people into a panic, for some the unknown is their biggest fear. With

mental health problems on the rise it is important to realize one's options, depression no longer

has to be the end all be all, there are so many alternative ways to cope such as; meditation,

exercise, mindfulness, self care, etc. The most important thing is finding something that works

for you.

Depression has been around for years upon years, it has been dated back as far as the

second millennium B.C.E. in Mesopotamia (Schimelpfening 2). During such time, “depression

was discussed as a spiritual rather than a physical condition,” Back then it was thought that
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demons had possessed you so instead of going to therapy you would go to your local priest to

deal with it (Schimelpfening 2). It is so fascinating how for so many years a mental illness,

especially as common as depression, was shunned and deemed unimportant. But in reality your

mental health takes a toll on your physical health. In fact during the Enlightenment period if you

had depression it was thought of as a weakness you inherited instead of a health concern. Due to

this belief you would be locked up and would be an outcast in society (Schimelpfening 13).

Mental illnesses were not well accepted and people feared to talk about weaknesses due to the

way people were treated. It wasn't until the 1970s that depression was deemed a psychological

condition that could be treated through medication and other treatments (schimelpfening 38).

And since then we have gained a much better understanding of causing factors and ways to treat

it.

For years doctors and other specialists have studied causes of depression, but it's not

always a clear cut answer. Most people understand that depression springs from a chemical

imbalance in your brain, but what exactly causes that imbalance? Researchers at Harvard explain

how, “there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the

brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems. It's believed

that several of these forces interact to bring on depression,” (Harvard Health 1). A lot of

chemicals are involved, there are billions of chemical interactions that affect your mood. And

due to the complexity of mental health, there can not be one single solution (Harvard Health 3),

because what works for one person might not work for another. Genes can heavily impact your

chances of developing depression, studies done by stanford show that, “If someone has a parent

or sibling with major depression, that person probably has a 2 or 3 times greater risk of

developing depression compared with the average person (or around 20-30% instead of 10%),”
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(Levinson 6). If you have a family history of depression you are therefore more susceptible to

developing it. So although scientists have discovered that yes, genes do have an impact on

depression, we still are unsure of the amount of genetic codes that are involved in depression

(Levinson 8). One thing that we do know is that no one simply “inherits” depression, genes are

just one factor that plays into it, but there are many other non-genetic factors such as “Severe

childhood physical or sexual abuse, childhood emotional and physical neglect, and severe life

stress,” (Levinson 5). When people experience traumatic events, especially when early in their

developmental years, they are much more likely to develop a mental disorder.

No one's life is picture perfect, everyone faces hardships at some point in their life. OS

how does one know when they have moved from feeling under the weather and into a depressive

episode? According to Medical News Today, “A depressive episode in the context of a major

depressive disorder is a period characterized by low mood and other depression symptoms that

lasts for 2 weeks or more,” (Leonard 1). It is important to keep track of your symptoms because

the earlier you catch yourself the easier it is to get yourself out of an episode. Some symptoms

include; feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, loss in appetite, change in sleep pattern, losing

interest, and suicidal thoughts (Leonard 1). This is just a small list of examples, but there are

many other symptoms to consider.

So many factors play into depression making each and every person's case so unique.

And because each case is so different it is important that we have a variety of different ways to

treat it. The first step to treatment is understanding and accepting the condition. When struggling

with depression it is important to take time for yourself and practice self care. This could include

meditation, eating healthy, being creative, and simply just taking time to relax by yourself. “It

also means saying no to others when overwhelmed and taking space to calm and soothe oneself,”
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(Leonard 18). Putting yourself first is of the utmost importance. Exercise is also proven to lift

one's mood, “An analysis of 25 studies on exercise and depression reports that exercise has a

“large and significant effect” on symptoms of depression,” (Leonard 31). While exercising your

body releases endorphins which have been proven to improve your mood. There are so many

alternatives to therapy which is a great thing for those who are unable to afford it or have found

that therapy might not be the right route for them.

Although there are so many great ways to cope with depression there comes a point when

one might need to seek outside help. That's when therapy and/or medication comes into play,

“research suggests you will improve your chances of getting relief if you combine drugs and

therapy. One report that pooled findings from 25 studies found that adding psychotherapy to

drug treatment was more helpful than medication alone in treating major depression,” (Harvard

Health 1). For more severe cases, one single type of treatment won’t be enough to ease

depression which is why most doctors suggest the use of moth medication and talk therapy.

Therapy is also great for those who are looking to keep occurrences from happening, “A classic

three-year study reported in JAMA tracked recurrences of major depression in about 200 people

ages 60 or older. Of those who received monthly interpersonal therapy and who also took an

antidepressant medication, 80% avoided a recurrence,” (Harvard Health 2). It is important to stay

vigilant about your mental health in order to stay happy and healthy.

Unfortunately, therapy is not available for everyone. US News mentions that “only 20

percent of youth suffering from a mental health disorder, like depression, receive treatment for

their condition,” (Lohmann). So what about the other 80%, which they project to equal around

12 million kids. In an article done by the Mayo Clinic it states, “All too often, people feel

ashamed about their depression and mistakenly believe they should be able to overcome it with
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willpower alone,”. The best thing you can do for yourself and/or for others is to acknowledge the

illness. Once you recognize it, you can then begin to seek a way of treatment. The earlier you

recognize it the easier it is to overcome.

The most important thing that someone struggling with depression needs is support.

Mayo clinic’s article, “Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend.”, explains how to

understand the warning signs for depression and what steps to follow in order to get your friend

or family back to being happy and healthy. There are so many valuable sources out there for

anyone who is looking for help. Mayo Clinic provides a list of things you can do as a loved one

in order to support someone struggling, some of which include; being willing to listen, avoid

giving advice, give positive reinforcement, create a safe environment, make plans together, etc.

The most important thing you can do is make sure they feel loved and cared for.

It’s absurd to think about how some people don’t believe in mental health problems.

People are choosing to turn their backs on something that is causing close to 48,000 deaths a

year! That is around a death every eleven minutes (CDC 3). Many people believe that mental

illnesses are a choice and you can simply decide to be happy if you wanted to. The phrase ‘fake

it till you make it’ does not always apply. In fact, denying the fact that you need help does more

harm than good. When you refuse to face the facts, you are preventing yourself from getting the

help that you deserve and need. It seems that over the past few years, mental illnesses have been

more and more romanticized. Take Vincent Van Gogh for instance, everyone admires his

artwork and its unique look, but we fail to address how he was severely mentally ill. Depression

tends to block creativity, so one can only wonder what his artwork would be like if he were

happy and healthy.

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Depression is on the rise, specifically in adolescents. In a study done by Manar Alazzam

and other healthcare professionals, they examined students' (specifically the senior class)

tendencies to develop depression during the COVID-19 pandemic. “Almost two thirds of

students reported depressive symptoms and anxiety,” (Alazzam). That is over half of the students

which is crazy to think about, but what's even crazier is that people of all age groups were

experiencing these same levels of depression. According to US News, “The National Institute of

Mental Health reports that about 3.2 million 12- to 17-year-olds have had at least one major

depressive episode within the past 12 months,” This is the largest reported amount of cases ever.

It has more than doubled just over the past decade (Lohmann 5), and that statistic was taken in

2019 which means the effects of COVID-19 have not even been taken into consideration. The

number continues to get scarier and scarier with each year and I am afraid to be another one of

those statistics.

I was always a happy child. The kind of child who was blissfully ignorant, but that all

changed the end of my freshman year when I lost my best friend. It sent me into a spiraling black

hole. I tried to pretend I was fine, but the truth of the matter is that I wasn’t. He had been my best

friend for four years, I loved him. I started to have severe stomach pains that would occur

anytime I ate, I lost twenty pounds because of it. I saw doctor after doctor to try and find out

what was wrong with me. But there was no physical problem. That’s when I was officially

diagnosed with severe depression and anxiety.

Everyone’s case is different. For me each day felt the same. The monotony of my life

became unbearable. Getting out of bed was the hardest part. My bed felt safe and warm, and the

outside world was scary and cold. Things as simply as showering and using the restroom seemed
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like a chore. My life had no meaning, and each day I found it harder and harder to find a reason

to stay.

I started seeing a therapist my sophomore year, but I rejected the whole process at first. I

would lie not only to my therapist but to myself how I was feeling. Partly because I was afraid of

being judged and partly because I was completely untuned with myself. My therapist got me to

start being more self aware and once I pushed past that barrier, the world became a little more

clearer. I still can’t always talk to my family about things but we work everyday to fix our

connection. Mental health not only affects you but all those in your lives as well. It’s important

to remember that your family just wants the best for you. For a while I had stopped hanging out

with my friends and was irritable all the time, but now I make an effort to get out there and

socialize. I take it day by day, working towards being happy again.

Depression has split up so many families, in order to prevent this from further happening

it is important to look out for the warning signs. This could include anything ranging from being

irritable and not wanting to socialize to things as severe as self destructive behavior like risk

taking and self harm. It is beyond important to recognize these signs and symptoms in order to

get your loved ones the help they need. Educate yourself and those around you on tough topics

like mental illness and remember to be kind to everyone because you never know if someone

could be struggling.

Depression can be a really scary thing and can show up when you least expect it. It could

be something as simple as being in your genes or as monumental as having a loved one die. The

paramount thing to remember is that you are valid. Because it is so common, a lot of times it

goes undiagnosed. In the troubling times we are going through right now, it is important to stay
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positive and realise that there are so many ways to cope with negative thoughts. Just remember,

we are all in this together!

If you are struggling please don't be afraid to contact one of these hotlines:

● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800) 273-8255

● Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741

● National Domestic Violence Hotline (800) 799-7233

● National Sexual Assault Hotline (800) 656-4673

● Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (800) 422-4453

● National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (Options for Deaf and Hard of Hearing)

dial 711 then 1-800-273-8255

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Works Cited

AlAzzam, Manar, et al. “Predictors of Depression and Anxiety Among Senior High

School Students During COVID-19 Pandemic: The Context of Home Quarantine and

Online Education.” Journal of School Nursing, vol. 37, no. 4, Aug. 2021, pp. 241–248.

EBSCOhost, doi:10.1177/1059840520988548. Accessed 15 October 2021.

“Depression: Supporting a Family Member or Friend.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation

for Medical Education and Research, 28 Nov. 2018, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-

conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20045943. Accessed 16 October 2021.

“Facts about Suicide.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, 30 Aug. 2021, www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html.

Schimelpfening, Nancy. “How to Positively Conquer Common Cognitive Distortions.”

Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 31 Mar. 2020, www.verywellmind.com/depression-and-

cognitive-distortions-1065378.

Schimelpfening, Nancy. “When Were the Earliest Accounts of Depression?” Verywell

Mind, www.verywellmind.com/who-discovered-depression-1066770. Accessed 22

October 2021.
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Teen Depression Is on the Rise | for Parents | US News. health.usnews.com/wellness/for-

parents/articles/2019-04-22/teen-depression-is-on-the-rise. Accessed 15 October 2021.

“What Causes Depression?” Harvard Health, 24 June 2019,

www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression.

“What Is a Depressive Episode and 12 Tips for Dealing with One.” Medical News Today,

MediLexicon International, www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322495. Accessed 16

October 2021.