EPISODE #154- Breaking the Stigma: A Personal Journey Through the Challenges of Depression

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:10):
Hello and welcome to Win Over Depression.
I am your host, tamara Trotter.
The Win Over Depression brandis a non-profit organization.
We have a website and YouTubechannel, both called Win Over
Depression.
We also have a Pinterestaccount, which is TT Mental
Health Expert.
In addition, we can be found onLinkedIn, twitter, instagram.

(00:34):
You could also join my Facebookgroup, also called Win Over
Depression.
Today, we're going to be talkingabout what people who suffer
with depression really want youto know.
So, as I've talked to youearlier about, I have suffered
from depression for most of myadult life, and so, because of

(00:56):
that, I feel as though I reallyhave honed in on many of the
components of depression, thesymptoms, ways to overcome it,
and because of that, I feel likeI'm almost a resident expert in
the matter.
And so, looking back over theyears that I've suffered with

(01:19):
depression, there are severalthings that I wish that I knew a
long time ago.
Number one is I wish that Iknew that it was due to a
chemical imbalance in the brainand that there were so many
other people who suffered justlike I did, and so I was very
personal in that I didn't wantanyone to know, and I knew that

(01:43):
I needed help, but I felt thatit was a weakness or I was weak
if I didn't want anyone to know,and I knew that I needed help,
but I felt that it's not theirfault.
Depression is a disease.
It's due to a chemicalimbalance in the brain.

(02:10):
It could also be hereditary,and a person who suffers with
depression cannot just turn itoff and on.
Also, you may not take itseriously.
You may think that the personis just trying to get attention.
That couldn't be further fromthe truth.

(02:31):
I would not wish depression onanyone, and so when I look back,
what I remember most is beingmore concerned about what other
people would think about me ifthey knew if I suffered from a
mental illness, rather thanlooking to help myself feel

(02:55):
better and not feel as though Iwas being a burden to my family.
And so that's what happens.
Is you just have this mixed upmind that is trying to convince
you that you really can justsnap out of it, or you're just

(03:18):
really overreacting?
And so I can just let you knowthat, even though I have been
proactive in my quest to reducemy symptoms of depression, I
still struggle, but I can onlyimagine how many people out

(03:38):
there have absolutely no idea ofwhat to do or where to start,
and then to add to their pain.
Their family doesn't understand, and they don't have a
supportive network of people whoare trying to understand them
better, but rather feel asthough they're just making

(04:02):
things up.
Mental illness because peoplewant to water it down and act as
if it's not a disease, justlike alcoholism and I'm here to
tell you that it is, and it'snot something to take lightly,

(04:26):
and so if you are in a situationwhere you have someone that you
know suffers with a mentalillness, the best thing that you
can do is learn more about itand don't make any assumptions,
because when you do that, you'rereally discrediting the person

(04:47):
who has the illness, and so allof us who suffer with a mental
illness, we need as many peopleas we can get to be in our
corner and try to understandwhat we go through every day.
So, even though I takemedication, I try to exercise as
much as I can, I try to eatcertain foods that help with

(05:10):
depression, I still fall shortand I still have symptoms, and
so imagine if there's someonewho doesn't have any tools in
their toolbox to help them getthrough the day-to-day struggle
with depression, you feel likeit's raining, but only on you.

(05:31):
Like it's raining, but only onyou.
It's like a cloud of sadnessthat follows you and it can be
there at any time and it justhits you.
And in the morning you have toset up your day and really try
to imagine what your day isgoing to look like and make the

(05:54):
most of the day by not havingany symptoms of depression, and
it's very challenging.
It is not easy.
People who suffer fromdepression keep it inside
because they don't want peopleto treat them differently once

(06:17):
they learn that this person maysuffer with a mental illness.
I remember several years ago, Ihad a supervisor and she was on
me about being on time to work,and actually that was one of my
goals every single day was to beon time.
Well, when you suffer withdepression, it's hard to get out

(06:42):
of bed, and I was struggling,and so I felt like I had to
reveal to her that I suffer withdepression or it was just going
to be a bad set ofcircumstances for me.
And the truth is I didn't trusther and I had situations with
her that I felt she could havedone differently.
So, in other words, I didn'tfeel as if she would understand,

(07:06):
but I made the decision becauseI wanted her to at least know
what my goals are and know thatI do care about being on time.
And so I remember just goinginto her office and explaining
it to her and I was veryapprehensive and I told her that
my goal was to be on time towork every day and, surprisingly

(07:32):
enough, she understood and shedid begin to work with me and it
actually worked out for thebetter or for the best.
But you just never know howpeople are going to receive you.
So if you don't take anythingelse away from this episode

(07:54):
today, just know that people whosuffer with depression keep it
inside because of all thestigmas that they face.
They can't just snap out of it.
It is a disease.
There are over 800,000 peopleevery year that take their life
due to suicide, and it is real.

(08:16):
It is a real live disease.
Some people are so affected byit that they can't even work and
they have to be on disability,and it's a tough road.
It's a tough road.
So I never want to end mypodcast without thanking you so

(08:36):
very much for listening.