For those who need better elucidation of the topic, depression is a mood disorder characterised by persistent loss of interest in LIFE, for the most part. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (DSM-5) criteria for major depressive disorder is five or more of the nine symptoms, “present during the same two week period and represent a change from previous functioning”. 

1. Depressed mood most of the time. 
2. Markedly diminished interest in activities.
3. Significant weight loss.
4. Insomnia or hypersomnia
5. Psychomotor agitation. 
6. Fatigue or loss of energy. 
7. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt. 
8. Diminished ability to think or concentrate. 
9. Recurrent thoughts of death or suicidal ideation. 

So if you’ve five or more of these conditions lasting for a two week period, you’ll be diagnosed positive for depression. But if you’ve even one which is number 9, you should immediately seek professional help. Now for some people therapy works, for some medication and yet others a blend of the two usually works. However, there’s a huge number of people for whom NOTHING seems to work, for a long time. That’s a fact! 

Depression can be genetically transferred, can be circumstantial/ environmental, can be triggered by a painful life event or have no reason/ cause at all! Yes! Depression is that state of mind that sometimes needs no cause! And that’s what makes it so tricky to navigate through. Also it can absolutely get worse without treatment so there’s no reason to underestimate its potency. 

According to WHO, almost 300 million people of all ages worldwide, suffer from depression, a staggering number! 

Yet depression is that one condition which is misunderstood, misconstrued and stigmatised beyond measure! 

Isn’t that insane? 

So many of us suffer from something so widespread, an epidemic yet so few of us talk about it, much less acknowledge that we’re suffering from it. 

One in three people have either depression or some form of mental health problem. And tragically, most have no clue how to deal with it. 

Depression in particular is very sinister, with context to its nature and forms. Even though DMS gives us the diagnostic criteria for depression, it’s most definitely not as comprehensive and as accurate as it should be! 

Depression has many varied forms and infinite manifestations. 

Sometimes you can’t even identify it, other times it feels like a phase yet other times, it comes and goes in waves. But there’s also times when it gets so bad that you KNOW you’ve “developed” it, that you suffer from it or have been suffering from it for years! 

Loss of interest in activities… loss of interest in life… suicidal thoughts… end of the road. Depression is painful. No words can describe the emptiness, the hopelessness, the utter futility that it brings in its wake. 

A foggy mind, a tired heart, a hollow future are all so reminiscent of this condition. 

Sometimes you feel the emptiness, other times even that leaves you feeling LITERALLY NOTHING. And what is nothingness? Those who haven’t experienced it, it’s very difficult for them to know what nothingness I am talking about here. But those who’ve felt that way, know exactly what I am talking about! 

Now, there are things you can do, like get medical help, exercise, eat well, sleep well, surround yourself with positivity. Love yourself. And the list can, quite frankly go on! But is there a way out? A once and for all, final way out of depression? 

Yes, there is! If you’re suffering from depression or any mental health condition and you’re reading this or thinking of sending this to a friend or family member who’s suffering, know that you’re already on your way! You’re on your way everyday that you wake up and everyday when you resolve to not take your own life. Every single day, every single second! There’s a way if you keep at it! If you only just keep going! If you keep going despite the pain, despite the torture, despite the pointlessness of it all. Just keep going! I can tell you by experience that the more days I practice this, the more I expose myself to discovering that there’s a way! That one day, it’ll just go away for good without the risks of a relapse. Let go of the fear of living, this very second, let it go, let go of the urge to die, this very minute and you’ll see that there’s a way out! It’s highly personalised for everyone but everyone gets to experience it the longer they decide to stay. The longer you decide to stay, the more chances you’ll have of living without it. And life without depression… I mean, I won’t even go there, or maybe I should, it’s immensely, infinitely rewarding! It’s worth it! And YOU DESERVE TO EXPERIENCE THAT, you deserve to know that, YOU DESERVE TO LIVE. So keep holding on to dear life and let it work it’s magic! That’s the number one cure for and the number one defence against depression, DO NOT GIVE UP. NOT TODAY. NOT TOMORROW. NOT TILL IT GOES AWAY FOR IT WILL, IT MOST CERTAINLY WILL. Do not put a time limit on it and do not let it manipulate you into believing that there’s no way out, for objectively speaking, if you keep going, life will not stop and as life doesn’t stop, somewhere along the road depression departs. Why? Because it can’t stay, nothing stays forever except for life, given you let it! Just keep going on! Just that! 

And one day you’ll be cured, one day you’ll wake up and you’ll never ever experience depression again. This might sound pathetically idealistic or inaccurate or misleading but I am sure you’ve already tried most if not all the solutions, so why not give this one a go and just go on to be you! Just stay and you’ll be surprised!