Invisible Disabilities

Health

Coping with Depression

The world of those who are normal seems to be getting more difficult as life accelerates, but people who suffer from depression have already made that discovery. The lack of empathy by others is just one symptom of what they experience because their disability is can only be identified through their behavior. They are often accused of being lazy and uncaring, or they can be seen as irresponsible. Those around them often make a joke of what can be a profound illness, so coping with depression has many facets where a patient will need support.

There are medicines on the market today that can be prescribed for patients suffering with depression, but each case must be handled on its own merits. Some people have only light depressive episodes, but others will need complete medical support for the rest of their lives. It takes a combination of the physician and the patient to decide what, if any, medications will be useful in combating this unseen medical issue.

The lack of empathy from others generally begins with the family of the person experiencing it, and it can often be seen as nothing more than a way to gain attention or avoid responsibility. Parents and siblings have often refused to believe there is anything wrong, and they will often accuse the person of making excuses for laziness or lack of ability. Their lack of empathy and understanding can be due to the fact they see depression as a mental illness, and they often do not want to recognize it could occur in their own family.

Getting treatment for depression is not always easy in a society where many people experience it on a fairly regular basis, and those with continuing issues are often left to develop their own coping mechanisms. While not all of them will require medication, many have been helped to live normal lives by using a prescription until they can deal with their disease on their own.