What I Have Learned Through My Experiences With Depression

10.07.2023

What I Have Learned Through My Experiences With Depression

by Loretta

Now in my 70's, I can look back over my life and see some of the positive things that resulted from having experienced depression.

My first experience with depression came at a crucial time in my life, in young adulthood, and brought me to make certain decisions which set the direction of my entire life. Although I had grown up in a Christian family, after facing depression, I came to know that my faith was my own, not something I believed simply because my parents believed it. These convictions eventually brought me to where I would live and helped determine who I would marry, since I wanted to marry someone who had the same faith and values as me. So what are some things that I have learned over the years?

Depression is often something one will face again and again, and not a one-time deal.

The things that have helped me the most are one-on-one counseling with my psychiatrist or counselor, group therapy, and medications. All of these helped to restore me back to good mental health. Recently, I found sites like ADAA provide resources that help me understand depression better. I was browsing through the Internet, looking for magazines and websites that dealt with depression, and I came across ADAA. I found ADAA's articles interesting and learned from other people's mental health stories, which showed what they went through and how they were helped.

Even though we would all like to have a “quick fix,” it’s most often not like that. It’s usually a long, slow climb back up to where you would like to go. I was hospitalized again in my 40's and when I was released I continued to go into the hospital during the day on their 'work rehab' program, doing simple office tasks. I applied for volunteer work in a soup kitchen near my home, but after a while, I tired of that and wanted to do something more in line with my abilities. I went to the local volunteer bureau and my advisor pointed out that a Southeast Asian women’s center in my city was looking for an English language instructor. Since I had a degree in languages, this was a good fit for me. I gained confidence and thrived in this position. Then someone suggested that I update my education to get a Teaching English as a Second Language certificate. This enabled me to eventually secure a job as a part-time English teacher with a language school where I worked for the next 15 years. So, as you see, it was a step-by-step climb to where I wanted to be.

It’s never a good idea to act on an impulsive thought when depressed. During the hospitalization in my 40's, I felt really low. I didn’t see how I was ever going to get better and I became suicidal. One weekend, when on leave from the hospital, I made a suicide attempt. Even though I was severely injured, I survived. Today, looking back, I realize that if I had succeeded in that attempt I would have cut off the best years of my life! Not only that, I would have caused tremendous sorrow to my husband and family for the rest of their lives. I thank God every day that I’m alive!

For me, and I think this is the case for most sufferers of depression, being around people is really important. My relationships with others—my husband, extended family, friends, and my faith community—have all helped to bring me back to good health and continue to sustain me. In my younger days, I used to chide myself, thinking that I should be more independent. But after a while, I adopted the sentiment expressed in the song by Barbara Streisand, “People who need other people are the luckiest people in the world!”

My message to those of you who are experiencing depression now is this—my heart is with you because I know it’s never easy. Find a good doctor who can help you. If you can’t relate to that person, keep searching. Eventually you’ll find someone you can trust. Believe that there is someone out there who wants to help you. And never give up. Eventually you will emerge from that dark tunnel!