3 things about “depression” that people often misunderstand

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I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not, but this week there have been several news stories about people with depression at the same time. The latest is the death of famous artist Chester Bennington, lead singer of Linkin Park, who had a huge fan base in Thailand. As a world-famous person and a great success in his career, there are questions from people who don’t understand why he would consider committing suicide. It’s because they don’t understand that these people are suffering from depression.

3 things about “depression” that people often misunderstand

Stories about “depression” that people often misunderstand

  1. Why do you think about committing suicide? Why don’t you fight? Why are you so weak? Etc.

For people with normal minds who do not yet have symptoms of depression. They may have experienced many ups and downs in life. But have survived that period of life and see suicide as a way out for the hopeless, a solution for the weak.

But in reality, people who are diagnosed with depression by doctors do not only have sensitive minds. Patients with depression also have problems with neurotransmitters in the brain. Which are abnormal, causing our thought processes and decision-making to be abnormal. Various logics that normal people can think of may not be thought of by patients with depression. Therefore, it is incorrect to claim that these patients are weak and not strong. In fact, these patients are very strong from the time they admit that they have depression.

However, there are also many depressed patients who can overcome the suicidal period with the help of those around them and psychiatrists.

  1. Pretend to be sad to get attention.

Most depressed people don’t want attention, they want people to “understand” them. If everyone understood them, understood what they felt, what they were. They wouldn’t need to seek attention from anyone. They don’t want to be famous, they just feel tortured by a recurring depressed state of mind. As the saying goes, “No one thinks of committing suicide, they just want to escape from the torture they are experiencing.”

  1. If you are suffering, go to the temple, listen to the Dhamma, meditate, and you will feel better.

It is true that the principles of Buddhism can calm the mind, but they can only be used by people with normal mental states, not patients with depression. Because as mentioned, patients with depression have neurotransmitter abnormalities that require treatment from psychiatrists who specialize in treating these illnesses, and in some cases. They will also need medication to adjust brain function. Therefore, reaching the core of Buddhism may not be the correct or direct way to treat the illness.

What should we do when we find out that someone we know is depressed or has a high probability of becoming depressed?

  1. Observe the person’s behavior. Is he sad, stressed, talks about sad things, talks about the suffering that has happened, posts on social media but uses self-deprecating words, is angry, hates himself, is unhappy in life, or may have talked about wanting to leave this world.
  2. Go in and ask questions and talk calmly. Give them a chance to tell you about their feelings. When they open their mouths, listen carefully without searching for answers or asking too many questions. Let them vent their suffering.
  3. Show him that you understand what he is saying and that you are there to support him and encourage him. Tell him that there are people who love him and are ready to help him if he needs it, and trust him that he will get through this difficult time. Remind him that whenever he feels down, he should always contact you.
  4. Do not forget that depression is a brain disorder. The reasons we explain may not be understood by him, or he may understand but cannot do it. Please be patient with him. Tell him repeatedly that you are glad that he is still with you, how important he is to you, and what are his good ทางเข้า ufabet https://ufabet999.app points.
  5. If you are friends, you should invite your friend to do activities that he/she likes together, such as eating delicious food, exercising, going on vacations, and sharing happiness and sorrows with each other.
  6. Never let him turn to alcohol or drugs.
  7. If his symptoms do not improve, he starts to isolate himself, isolates himself, and does not socialize with people around him, you should invite him to see a psychiatrist (you can hold hands and go to see a psychiatrist from the beginning when you suspect that he may have depression).