Everybody experiences occasional sadness from time-to-time. However, mental illness can manifest as a loss of interest, sadness, low energy, and changes in mood. For people suffering from depression, there are many treatment options that can help.
To get the help they need, people with mood disorders or depression should work closely with a mental healthcare professional. Although family and friends can be supportive of those who are suffering from depression, it is important to seek treatment for major depressive disorder.
Top 8 Illustrations
1. My best friend saved me when I attempted suicide, but I didn’t save her by Drusilla moorhouse
Three months prior, I was a patient at a mental hospital. My best friend Denise had committed suicide on Christmas. I confessed to my mother that I was dying days later. Denise was my best friend and I couldn’t be forgiven for what I did to her death.
Moorhouse offers a detailed essay on depression. He shares intimate confessions, taking the reader along for the ride.
2. How can you complain? James Blake
“I wanted people in my situation to feel the same way I felt. But I didn’t know how to express it. I have gone into a bit of detail here not to make anyone feel sorry for me but to show how a privileged, relatively rich-and-famous-enough-for-zero-pity white man could become depressed against all societal expectations and allowances. This is not only oppression, but repression that caused my depression.
James Blake, musician and author, talks about his struggle with depression. Blake discusses how he felt shame and guilt about the notion that he was able to have it all on his own.
3. Nadine Dirks gives her personal account of what it is like to be depressed.
“In my teens, I felt sad, withdrawn and unmotivated. It seemed that it was just a day, but what became weeks of intense feelings that would not let up made everything seem worse. It was hard to live with people my age. Depression made even the simplest, everyday tasks such as brushing teeth seem daunting. It felt like an invisible rope that kept my bedside manner occupied.
Dirks discusses her struggle to get treatment for depression as a Black woman. Dirks discusses her struggle to receive the correct diagnosis and proper psychological and medical care, despite knowing something was wrong about her mental state.
4. Jac Gochoco: I have depression and I am proof that you never know the battle someone is waging inside.
“A few more years later, when I was 20, my smile had diminished and I was ready for the next day. I couldn’t bear the thought of getting up in the morning. I didn’t feel anxious or sad any longer. I felt numb. And that was when the worst happened. I called my dad who was across the country. He heard me and I shared everything. But it was too late. I wasn’t asking for help. I was just saying goodbye.”
Gochoco describes how many people with depression live through the struggle to be brave and positive while facing their demons. The Olympic weightlifting coach is now a yoga instructor and he wants to spread the message about mental health.
5. Cameron Stout writes Essay: How to Survive Depression
“I was referred to a psychiatrist by my mother in 1993. He prescribed an antidepressant. The medication gained momentum slowly over the next two months. I was freed from the grip of sadness and apathy that had been weighing me down. I helped raise two wonderful children, built a successful securities-litigation practice, and became an accomplished cyclist. I took my mental well-being for granted.
Cameron Stout, Princeton University alum and author, shared his depression story with fellow Tigers through Princeton’s alumni publication. This proves that even the most intelligent and successful individuals can be defeated by chemical imbalances.
Stout discusses his experiences with treatment and how working alongside mental health professionals helped him get over depression.
6. Marisa McPeckStringham: A Essay on Depression.
“Sometimes, in junior high when my depression was very severe, I would walk straight home from college and change into pajamas. My dad noticed and said something to me about my habit of wearing pajamas for several days straight before going to bed. It was better to not change into pajamas before bed. People with depression hide their troubled behaviors in order to feel ashamed. I felt very ashamed but didn’t know how to speak.
McPeck -Stringham describes her struggle with depression as well as an eating disorder when she was young. These were both caused by major life changes. The author was again diagnosed with depression in adulthood. However, she managed to recover her mental health by using tried-and tested methods.
7. Courtenay Harris Bond describes depression as it feels.
The simplest tasks can seem overwhelming: paying my cell phone bill or scheduling a home repair. Sometimes, it seems impossible to manage even simple tasks like taking a bath or organizing a play date. My children’s arguments make me want the wall. I want to rip off my skin. It feels like there is no light at the end. The pain is never ending, but I feel the light at the end of the tunnel is a single candle.
Bond does a wonderful job of explaining depression to readers, even for those with no experience of it. Bond states that depression can be caused by chemical imbalances, childhood issues, or a combination of both.
8. Nora Super opens up about my struggle with recurring depression
“Once more, I spiraled down. I couldn’t get up from my bed. I couldn’t get up to work. I considered harming me. My husband encouraged me to get ECT sooner. It worked again. Within weeks, I was back to work pretending nothing had ever happened. To show that I was “normal”, I tried to push myself even harder. I thought that there was a pattern to my functioning: I would function at high levels for many years before my depression would set in. I believed that I would live a healthy life for the next ten years.
Super shares her experience with electroconvulsive treatment and how it helped her cope with depression after a major life-changing event. Super was able identify her symptoms and receive help much sooner than she expected.
7 Writing prompts for essays about depression
It can be difficult to come up with essay topics and questions for essays about depression. Here are six topics for an essay on depression.
1. What is Depression?
Your essay should discuss depression and the symptoms and causes.
It can be hard to understand and define depression. Define depression. Then, explore signs, symptoms, causes, and treatment options. It can be caused by trauma, personal circumstances, or genetics. Examine how depression can manifest in your everyday life and what you can do to help it.
2. How Is Depression diagnosed?
A diagnosis of depression is not always easy. A psychiatrist can diagnose depression, as well as a specific lab test. This essay will discuss the various ways that depression can be diagnosed.
3. Depression: Causes
There are many reasons for depression. This article will explain how it can happen. There are many possible causes for depression, including trauma, grief or anxiety disorders. Consider each possible cause of depression and how it can manifest into depression.
4. Different types of depression
This prompt will allow you to discuss the differences between depression types and draw comparisons.
There are many kinds of depression. This essay will explore each type and their symptoms and causes. The cause of depression can affect how severe the symptoms are. Bipolar disorder, for example, can cause depression. This is different from the depression that is brought on by grief.
Examine the differences between the types of depression, and make comparisons.
5. Who is at risk of depression?
Depression symptoms can be more common in people with certain genetic and socio-economic factors. Young adults and teens are more likely to experience depression. Discuss depression risk factors and the impact of their environment on this risk.
6. Can Social Media Cause Depression?
Social media presents many challenges for today’s youth. Is social media a cause of depression among teens? This essay will explore the negative effects of social media. Discuss the negative and positive sides of social media.
7. Is it possible to experience depression?
This essay question asks, “Can anyone have depression?” Depression can be more common in those with lower incomes than for those who are wealthy and well-known. This essay will discuss whether wealthy and privileged people can suffer from depression. This topic is great for argumentative essays. Discuss both sides and come up with your conclusion.
The Last Word on Essays about Depression
For a persuasive essay on depression, you should study other essays. You can also do your research by interviewing people or obtaining information from different sources. This sensitive topic should be approached with care. You may also want to write about your own experience with mental disorders.
FAQs on Essays about Depression
– Is depression common?
The World Health Organization estimates that around 5% of those under 60 suffer from depression. Over 60s, the rate of depression is about 6%. Depression can strike anyone, so it is vital that all people suffering from the condition receive treatment.
What are the best ways to treat depression?
Let’s say you have depression and are suffering from some symptoms. If you are suffering from depression, you should consult with your doctor to find a solution. Many people find that combining antidepressant medication and cognitive behavior therapy works well. However, this may not be the right treatment for everyone with depression. Regular visits to your doctor are a good way to keep track of your progress in improving your mental well-being.
