Good Sunday afternoon, blog friends, here I am again participating in this contest. Since I've suffered from depression for several years, I decided to choose the topic of depression, an often overlooked and terrible mental illness. I began suffering from depression about five years ago. I've been diagnosed with major depression and anxiety and panic disorder, and I'm obviously treated by a psychiatrist, who has been my savior.
I've spoken about my illness sometimes because, unfortunately, it's something I live with every day and often makes my life a nightmare, to the point of becoming a debilitating disease. I've had periods where I could barely get out of bed and didn't wash, only filling myself with psychiatric drugs (I was taking up to 12 pills a day). Then, fortunately, I found the right therapist for me, and after years of work and therapy, I can say I'm compensated. Unfortunately, I'm not cured, but let's just say I'm living with the disorder now.
So how did I deal with depression? Initially, I entered a really bad period. The medications seemed to make things worse. The first psychiatrist I saw also didn't get the diagnosis right, and my psychologist wasn't much help. I fell into a bad period and started self-medicating with alcohol, which obviously made the situation worse. Then, luckily, I decided to change psychiatrists, also because I was getting worse. He's also an excellent psychotherapist, and little by little, he was able to give me an accurate diagnosis, detoxify me from my previous medication, and find one that was right for me.
Now I only take two medications, an anxiolytic and an antidepressant. Of course, over the years, he's given me advice and exercises like not waking up too late in the morning, trying to get even a little physical activity, etc. Things that might seem normal to a person without depression seem insurmountable to a depressed person. However, thanks to professional help, I've made great progress. There are obviously periods when I get worse, but they're increasingly rare, and I'm managing them better than I used to. It's not an easy illness to live with; the sadness, anhedonia, and the feeling of emptiness and constant pain are monsters that are difficult to combat, and those who are depressed battle their own minds every day. However, if you suspect you're suffering from depression, I recommend finding a good professional because when you have a mental illness, you need help, without shame, and a good professional can really help you feel better.
First picture edited by my phone translation with deepl.
