Cited in Yahoo Health – Raising Awareness About Depression Struggle

In this interesting post, Woman’s ‘Trick’ Tattoo Perfectly Captures the Struggles of Depression, Yahoo Health writer, Emily Sundberg, captures the sometimes confusing experience of depression that has been creatively highlighted by a “trick” tattoo 21 year old Bekah Miles, an Oregon student, shared on Facebook in hopes of raising awareness about depression.  Looked at head on, it reads, “I’m fine,” whereas looking down at it, from Miles’ perspective, it reads “save me” – a visual trick that represents her experience of feeling desperate for help while at the same time seeming “fine” to those around her.

Depression can fuel feelings of hopelessness, self-criticism, shame, as well as conflicted feelings about how to ask for and get help. This can sometimes stop people from getting the professional help they need – a problem that is especially true for young people who don’t know where to turn or even believe that reaching out would help. This skepticism is part and parcel of depression – a mood disorder distinguished by characteristic hopelessness.

I was pleased to be cited in reporting the concerning rise of stress among young adults – a trend that is not well-understood.

Yahoo Health spoke to anxiety expert Alicia Clark, PsyD, a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Washington, D.C. earlier in the yearabout the topic of mental health and college students. “While we cannot be sure all of the factors that contribute to this, young adults appear to have more stress than in the past.”

For anyone struggling with depression, or their parents, it is critical to know that help is readily available, and that doubts about ever feeling better are part of being depression – and not the truth.

If you, or someone you love, is depressed, educate yourself and reach out. Know that you are not alone. Click here for a list of online resources that can help.