Depression hurts in many ways; not unlike many other diseases. But unlike some other diseases depression hurts our innermost parts. It is a fact that there are no pain receptors in the brain. It cannot feel pain. But the mind of the depression patient actually hurts. Maybe it’s the sensation of pressure. Maybe it’s psychosomatic. Or, maybe it’s the body’s way of telling us that something is wrong; that we need help. Whatever it is, it is very real.
Mental pain is not the only painful condition associated with depression. Many people report pain in the limbs and joints as well as other parts of the body. The human mind is an amazing thing about which so much is still unknown. As a person who has struggled with Depression for twenty years I can attest to this pain. I have no scientific background, nor can I explain what it is. I only know that it hurts.
In light of recent events concerning the amazing actor, Robin Williams, I feel it only fitting to address the issue at this time. People who don’t have depression can never know how it feels. Although many people feel depressed at various times in their lives, they cannot know this pain. Simple depression is vastly different from Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). In the news and on social media I have seen and heard a great deal about this. To most of us Mr. Williams was a great actor and nothing more. For those of us who suffer from the disease he has been a real eye-opener. I have personally done a lot of soul searching lately as I know others have as well. Depression can cause you to think and feel things which other people never would. The idea that someone could take their own life becomes not so far fetched. It could happen to any of us. With all of the different forms of Depression which fall under the umbrella of MDD it isn’t hard to see how little is actually known about it. While you can find hundreds of thousands of listings in an internet search for Depression, most of them give almost the same information. Many health care professionals are doing valuable research every day. But much of the information online is almost canned. It is meaningless to those of us who know how it really feels. What’s worse is the fact that while we do know how it feels, we have trouble explaining it to the doctors we see. How can you explain something that is not supposed to exist.
Pain is typically accompanied by an increase in blood pressure. This explains why they always check your blood pressure when you go to the doctor with a complaint of pain. I have noticed when I am in the midst of a depressed episode that my own blood pressure is usually excessively low. Not being a health care professional, I do not know if there is a correlation between the two. It may be possible that the professionals don’t know either. I do know that when I have visited my doctor, the nurse has commented on the fact that I have “good” blood pressure. When I ask them what it is, the numbers are lower than my normal pressure readings.
If you look a the pictures of Mr.Williams you can see the pain in the lines of his face. Before the incident I had not heard of his struggle. In retrospect I think I should have seen it. I have seen those same expressions many times looking back at me in the mirror. I am deeply saddened by this loss. Hopefully people will take notice of those around them. If you know someone who has that deeply troubled look on their face, they might well be tormented by this vicious disease. Yes, it is vicious. It causes people to take their own lives. What other disease can do that? But, if you do know someone like this, please try to help them. In a future article I will discuss what you can do to help without doing more damage. Medications don’t always alleviate the symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder. But there are things that can be done. You can make a difference.
©8-15-2014 by William Bouker
