Video Discussion
According to AndrĂ© Solomon, the main difficulty of depression lies in communicating the patient’s condition to those around him. Many people use the word “depression” to describe a bad mood or sadness or say that they are not in the mood. When a specialist uses the word “depression,” they refer to clinical depression – depressive disorder. Depressive disorder is a condition in which feelings of sadness are much more intense than usual and last longer than expected (CTFORUM, 2014). There is also a loss of interest and pleasure. People suffering from depression have difficulty functioning daily. Complications also occur at work. Very often, they are not interested in the closeness of family and friends. They feel despair and feel useless. Symptoms of depression are individual and manifest themselves differently in each person.
Andre Solomon says that even if a person can maintain normal functioning, this does not indicate that depression is not acute (2014). People may experience depressive episodes differently, but they all equally need understanding and support. It is impossible to deal with such a condition with advice like “just think positive” or “everything will be okay.” The thoughts of a person suffering from depression can be gloomy and unpleasant, accompanied by feelings of failure, low self-esteem, and despair. These thoughts and feelings are accompanied by anxiety and reduced functioning – regarding the expectations of others or his own. People in this condition need a deep understanding and the willingness of loved ones to help and wait for the state to improve. This is the only way to help and support a person experiencing a depressive episode.
Video Reflection
I agree with Andre Solomon that depression is a severe clinical illness. For me, the most striking aspect of the Video was the comparison of depression to a hedge and a rusty spot on it. People around here think that depression is a little yellow stain that can easily be painted over. At the same time, depression is when the whole fence collapses and turns into dust. This is memorable to me because this example shows the absolute magnitude of the problem relative to how many people perceive it.
The main issue I took away from myself was how to communicate the severity and seriousness of this disorder to ordinary people. I cannot even begin to imagine how hard life is for lei with depression, whose family devalues the disorder. After all, if the depressive condition is ignored, it can lead to critical consequences for the patient.
My main conclusion is that depression is a complex mental disorder associated primarily with the emotional sphere. In addition, depression is characterized by certain disorders in the sphere of thinking. Depressed people find it hard to make decisions. They have gloomy thoughts about themselves, the world around them, and people. Most people suffering from depression are not conscious of their psychological problems – they accept depression as a norm of life. They think they have a bad mood or a black streak in life. In fact, depression cannot be overcome by willpower and strong desire. This is why educating people about this illness is essential not to devalue or downplay its significance.
Reference
CTFORUM. (2014). Why we can’t talk about depression – with Andrew Solomon. [Video]. YouTube. Web.