People with emotional disorders such as depression and
bipolar disorder are often thought to be weak, overly sensitive, or crazy. A
friend of mine has depression, and our other friends sometimes give her a hard
time. I’ll occasionally hear them complaining that she’s being “dramatic”, or
that she can’t handle a certain situation. They tease her to the point that she
doesn’t want to talk to them about her emotions at all.
But
guess what? They don’t know what’s going on in her head. Emotional disorders
are not easily controlled. Oftentimes, people develop disorders as a result of genetics or changes in
the brain. Disorders such as anxiety can be transferred through
generations. Many disorders are from a chemical imbalance in the brain. A deficiency
of serotonin, a neurotransmitter than causes regulation in mood, causes
depression and anxiety. It is impossible to prevent the disorder. Certain
stressful situations can also create or intensify emotional disorders.
I was diagnosed
with Generalized Anxiety Disorder and depression four years ago. My disorders
were situational and created when my house burned down in the beginning of my
senior year of high school. I lost everything, but I repressed my pain to focus
on getting through the school year. My repression led to post-traumatic stress
disorder. I was in a constant state of fear during my freshman year of college.
After being sent to the hospital twice with massive chest pains, a doctor
diagnosed me with the disorders. I soon learned to fight the symptoms and how
to calm myself during times that were particularly difficult for me. I wanted
to prove that emotional disorders do not make a person weak.
There are many famous
and historical figures who have battled emotional and mood disorders. Abraham
Lincoln, arguably one of the best and most influential presidents in our nation’s
history, had depressive symptoms. The man was president during the bloodiest
war in American history and freed the slaves even though half the country hated
him for it. Weak? Crazy? I think not. Depression survivors and victims include actors
Harrison Ford and Drew Carey, musicians Ludwig Van Beethoven, Kurt Cobain, John
Denver and Billy Joel, and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Even the Diana, Princess of
Wales, fought depression and eating disorders during her life. Ben Stiller has
bipolar disorder. All of these people achieved or are still achieving great
things in their life, while battling emotional and mood disorders.
Living with emotional disorders is
an everyday battle, but I refuse to see myself as weak. I refuse to even use
the word “suffer”. I am fighting anxiety, not suffering. I even try to help
others who are battling similar disorders. Does this sound weak, or crazy to you?
I don't think you sound weak or crazy. You sound strong. You have been medically diagnosed, but instead of using that as an excuse, you still go on with your life. You aren't just sitting around doing nothing, you are battling it every day. Disorders is not like a bad cold you can cure, it is something you have to deal with for the rest of your life. It's unfortunate that people have to deal with this, but I think by you making it into a positive and using it to help others is very heroic and selfless.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this blog and The Reader's comment. My sister is in high school and one of her friends is dealing with depression and possibly another issue because of her parent's recent divorce. Because of this, she is going to school in the mornings and doing the rest of her work at home. As I was being the taxi driver one day with my sister and a couple of her other friends, they were not being too nice about the girl and saying she's just crazy and wants to get out of classes. I let them continue their conversation and talked to my sister once we had dropped her friends off. I tried to make her see that this is not something the girl is doing just to get out of school and how it is pretty serious and not her fault at all.I am not sure if they are just not mature enough to see this or what,but people thinking and talking that way is really a problem.
ReplyDeleteI agree with this post 100%. I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and agoraphobia, and understand exactly what you're talking about. There are so many people out there who, because they can't see a wound, don't understand that you are hurting. My biggest problem (which was surprising to me) was a professor I had last year. I came in to my school knowing about my disorders, as I had dealt with them previously, and immediately went to all of my professors, explained that sometimes I wouldn't be able to attend class, but would like to know if there was a way to get around that. I had a school provided note taker, all I had to do was let the profs know that, hey, I might not get to see the lecture, can you tape it? I understand fully that professors are busy as all get out. I worked closely with one for years... however he would never, ever, in all his prize winning, book writing, teaching life, say no to a student having someone tape his classes for them.... ESPECIALLY not for medical reasons. The professor I dealt with last year quite literally told me that if I didn't attend class, it was my own fault, and that I wasn't to have someone else tape the class, and no, he wouldn't post his powerpoint on the website. Even with my paperwork, my explanation and my doctors' explanations, I was weak, and should just buck up and get to class. Yeah, super easy when you have a panic attack on the way out the door.
ReplyDeleteI think there should be a huge amount of public awareness teaching for mental/emotional disorders. We can't help it, we try... sometimes we win, sometimes we lose. Sometimes just getting out of bed is victory. Some people just don't get it. Sometimes I wish they did understand completely, then I realize that I would never wish these feelings on anyone.