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The Face of Depression Doesn't Discriminate

December 8, 2013 Liana M. Scott

The face of depression is a happy one. The face of depression is sad ... it's shocked, it's delighted, it's a confused face. The face of depression is a surprised face ... it's angry, dauntless, it's a grumpy face. The face of depression is that of your friend, your neighbor, your spouse. It is the face of your child's teacher, your hairdresser, your priest ... your son, your daughter, your boss, your employer. The face of depression looks like the everyday face and it is everywhere, you just may not know it.

Depression Doesn't Discriminate: It Affects Over 10% of Us

Statistics is North America, whether in the U.S. or Canada, are pretty much the same. More than 10% of the population have (or will) suffer from a mental illness in their lifetime. If they don't suffer from one themselves, one in five people in their circles is suffering.

As someone who suffers from depression, I am the one in five. I walk in and out of people's lives, most of whom have no idea that I suffer from depression.

Depression Doesn't Discriminate and It's Invisible

The face of depression looks no different that anybody elses face. We need to learn to recognize and accept depression in ourselves and in others.

Over the years I've gotten very good at hiding it. Hiding in plain sight, as it were. I have worn all the faces; happy, sad, confused, dauntless, delighted, angry, grumpy... and more. I look like anybody else. A person looking at me wouldn't have a clue what's going on inside.

Pick your poison: one of these depression wars is taking place inside me, inside your friends, right now:

The battle; the constant tug-of-war between how I feel and how I look like I feel.

The stress of battle; the constant worry that somebody is going to figure out my dirty little secret.

Injured in battle; the inevitability of hitting rock bottom.

Recovering from battle; getting the much needed treatment for my depression.

Helping others with their battle; helping to educate people about depression.

While it is far from easy, I have also begun talking about my depression openly. I told my family right away, over a decade ago. Close friends came next, some right away, others took years. I recently told a couple of coworkers. I try to talk about it more often, to be open, to help educate. To be part of the solution, to end the stigma of depression and mental illness.

The face of depression looks like anybody else's face. It is my face. It is your face. We are no more, no less than anybody else. If you don't have mental illness, you invariably know someone who does, whether you realize it or not. We ... you and I ... are the face of mental illness.

APA Reference
Scott, L. (2013, December 8). The Face of Depression Doesn't Discriminate, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2024, November 24 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/copingwithdepression/2013/12/the-face-of-depression



Author: Liana M. Scott

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Karen Fisette
December, 12 2013 at 5:00 pm

My therapist has taught me to be open about my depression... I have been able to talk to my family and close friends about my depression...It has helped become stronger and it has helped me feel better about myself...

Jean Marie
December, 10 2013 at 8:15 am

Thank you. I am going to talk about this today with my therapist. It is an interesting dance, between going along to get along, and wondering when to be open about the reality of it.

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