Depression is everywhere.
It’s one of the most common health conditions in the world and cases are diagnosed, experienced and felt by millions of people every single day. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the figure to be more than 264 million people, and this figure could include any friends, family and bridge partners or opponents; it might even include you.
Let’s talk about depression, support and bridge.
It’s not talked about enough. (And often, even when people do, they’re not sure what to say.)
Here’s how to spot the warning signs of depression and anxiety – and what to do if it happens.
Depression: An Inside View
I’m thankful for every essay, article and piece of writing about depression that exists.
Explaining what depression feels like can be difficult; I imagine that understanding it from the other side of the argument can be difficult, too. That’s why I’m glad that others have had the courage to create open discussions about depression.
- MEDIUM: My Name is Wil Wheaton: I Live With Chronic Depression and Generalized Anxiety (by Wil Wheaton)
- THE GUARDIAN: My Battle with Depression and the Two Things It Taught Me (by Ben Locker)
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/30/battle-depression-taught-me-medicine-love - GLAMOUR: Chrissy Teigen on Postpartum Depression
https://www.glamour.com/story/chrissy-teigen-postpartum-depression - TIME: Kristen Bell: I’m Over Staying Silent About Depression
https://time.com/4352130/kristen-bell-frozen-depression-anxiety/
Depression isn’t a choice: it’s a condition. It can affect people of all ages – and it can appear in many forms (including chronic and postpartum, for example). It can happen at any point, even if-and-when other things in your life might be “fine.”
It’s the feeling of being unable to get out of bed even when you have to – and even when it’s been several hours or days. It’s the feeling of dissatisfaction or fear – even when it’s difficult to pinpoint why these feelings are surfacing. It’s crying (or not crying) for either everything or nothing. Sometimes, it’s just a feeling of numb neutrality.
Unless treated and diagnosed, depression is also the feeling of having no practical solution to the experience.
If you suspect the symptoms of depression in someone you know (or in yourself), seek immediate help for diagnosis and treatment. Depression remains a physical health condition, and it can be treated and managed successfully.
Questions About Depression
How many people are going through or affected by depression and associated conditions? How many bridge players? Answering these questions would be hard without the ability and courage to talk about depression and draw the topic out in the open.
How do I spot depression?
One of the first signs of depression is change.
Is someone acting differently – or feeling differently? Are they doing different things than they normally would – or over-indulging in normality to make things appear more normal than they really feel?
Once you notice this, it’s a potential sign that it could be depression. Where you’re seeing the signs in someone else, ask and encourage them to seek available help resources. (Where you see it in yourself, seek out these resources, too.)
Talk about it, seek help, seek diagnosis and finally seek treatment.
What do I do in the case of an emergency?
Depression can turn into an emergency situation; sometimes, self-harm and suicide attempts can happen. They can be scary, and they can be dangerous – and if you ever encounter one, it should be treated like a medical emergency.
Do you suspect immediate self-harm or warning signs of a situation leading up to it?
Contact emergency services immediately: contact neighbors, contact family, contact friends. It could save someone’s life, and it could be the change they need.
What can I do when I spot depression?
An open talk, asking about it and getting someone to talk about what they’re going through or feeling, is one of the first ways to deal the cards. It’s true when noticing warning signs or symptoms in anyone, including in yourself.
From there, it can become a broader discussion: about coping mechanisms, about dealing with symptoms and anxiety, about seeking the correct treatment. About local and international support or counseling networks that can make the heavy weight of depression easier to manage.
But first, depression should be talked about.