Depression: Silent Battles with Invisible Suffering

Changes in feelings and moods are considered normal since humans can react to different stimuli and events in life. However, this comes to a certain extent. Feeling sad from time to time is ordinary, but experiencing that unhappiness for weeks to months may be a sign of crisis.

Especially in this pandemic, people's mental health is in grave danger as everyday problems become more detrimental and challenging. According to the World Health Organization (2020), in 130 countries surveyed, 93% demanded more funding for mental health services. This is due to the increasing numbers of people experiencing isolation, bereavement, loss of income, fear of several matters, and worsening prior mental health conditions (Bruner & Drysdale, 2020).

Among those mental health difficulties, depression is the primary cause of disability worldwide. An estimate, of 5% of adults, primarily women, are experiencing depression. In the Philippines, about 1 in 10 young adults have moderate to severe depression (Banal, Gastardo-Conaco, Natividad & Puyat, 2021). This mental illness is indicated by feelings of restlessness, hopelessness, difficulties in sound thinking, and a proper sleeping cycle that affects functioning in everyday life (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).

In the physical sense, observing the symptoms of people with depression is extremely difficult. The battles within these individuals do not obviously manifest the scars and pain they go through every day. Some of them laugh and exhibit normal interactional behavior but deep inside, the wounds still exist deep inside. The ticking bomb inside their heads keeps moving while they are stuck in their persistent empty feelings. When these people say they feel lost and lonely, it is essential to understand that it is not a phase just to shrug off and get over it.

In the present, checking on loved ones is vital for everyone's sake. Everybody is vulnerable to illnesses and diseases, including mental health problems. However, checking off symptoms is not enough to diagnose a person. The best way to treat mental health difficulties is to consult a professional practitioner and get the best treatment method.

References

Banal, M., Gastardo-Conaco, M., Natividad, J. & Puyat, J. (2021). Depressive symptoms among young adults in the Philippines: Results from a nationwide cross-sectional survey. Journal of Affective Disorders Reports. Volume 3, 2021, 100073. ISSN 2666-9153. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2020.100073.

Bruner, A. & Drysdale, C. (2020). COVID-19 disrupting mental health services in most countries, WHO survey. World Health Organization. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news/item/05-10-2020-covid-19-disrupting-mental-health-services-in-most-countries-who-survey

Cleveland Clinic. (2022). Depression. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9290-depression