Depression is a potentially deadly disease but we can fight against it

Life is full of ironies. Three years ago, when comedian Robin Williams hanged himself to end his suffering from drug addiction and chronic depression, everyone got the shock of their lives.  It was but a tragic way to bid his life goodbye. Despite of the glamour and glitz of Hollywood, Williams, who had rose to fame by making people laugh on his films chose to end his life by putting off his "jolly" mask and showing everyone his true emotions. This reminds me of Britney Spears' song entitled "Lucky". The said song rings true to Williams' life, it clearly states that despite the Hollywood fame, there's something missing in his life. Once the spotlights went off, he'd find himself alone and lonely. When he's all by himself, that's when depression creeps into him. 

"The truth shouts: No one is spared from depression."

Depression, a frequently misunderstood illness, seems to get media attention only when it's associated with a celebrity's death by suicide, or a celebrity makes controversial remarks about it. 

In the Philippines, depression was on the news because of now controversial remarks by comedian, TV host, and actor Joey De Leon. The veteran comedian gave such an insensitive remark that irked the public. He said: "Yung depression, gawa-gawa lang ng mga tao iyan. Gawa nila sa sarili nila." (Depression is something people make up. Something they do to themselves.) De Leon has since issued a public apology, explaining that he had wrong ideas about depression and that he was sorry for trivializing the pain of those suffering from it. 

There will really be times when we'd feel that the world will crumble before us. Personally speaking, I've had the worst time this year after having gone through a narcissistic relationship with my ex. So it's understandably so that for quite sometime, I really went through depression because at the time I really thought everything was my fault. I felt so worthless after i was devalued and then eventually discarded by him. But clinging on to God's promises, I know all these things shall pass. If it's not okay today, it's not yet the end. Eight months had passed since he left me hanging and totally left me as he blocked me off his life. I thank God for giving me the strength to carry on and I thank my family, my friends, and fellow bloggers for all the help and inspiration. It's true that there are still times when I feel sorry for myself, but still I am blessed to have been alive and enjoy the company of my loved ones. 

According to ManilaMed psychiatirst Tomas Bautista, MD, it's not surprising for someone like Joey De Leon to make incorrect, or even insensitive statements about depression, which is still a widely misunderstood and even stigmatized disease.

“It’s a wake-up call. Persons like Joey de leon, whom we thought ay educated, ay wala palang alam sa depression. That’s one. Two, kasalanan ba ni Joey yun? E hindi naman niya specialty ang psychiatry.

“So for his part, wag na sana siyang makialam sa mga bagay na hindi naman siya ang expert. Ayoko siyang i-bash. Kung tingin nya na-hurt niya ang mga depressed na tao then humingi siya ng tawad. Para naman sa akin, wake-up call talaga yun for everybody,” said Dr. Bautista. 

What depression means?

Dr. Bautista clarified that the word “depression” means two things. Usually, like Joey De Leon, many people think depression refers to the low, bad feeling we get when we go through loss, defeat, or feel frustration; the pain of separation, or loneliness.

In that sense, every person can get depression.  This type of depression can get really intense for example, when a loved one dies and a person grieves.

“ Pag nonpathological na depression, yes. Kasi ang depression is like you become depressed because you didn’t get what you want. Something happened that you didn’t expect. You lost somebody. May stages naman ang grieving, diba? End part ng grieving is depression and then acceptance na,” said Dr. Bautista.

This type of depression, no matter how intense or painful, eventually passes. It goes away, the person goes back to normal and moves on with his or her life.

This is not the case with pathological depression, which is not simply a bad feeling but an illness in the brain.  It can last weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime. If untreated, there is an increased likelihood that the depressed person may commit suicide.