Lengthy but worth reading.
Severe depression is something few people have a handle on. Those who have it are helpless and are incapable of dealing with it, and many times are so disabled by it they can't function to the point that they can't do anything.
Instead of understanding this, those who don't suffer this illness always have the answer. But do they?

A normal thinking or feeling person is incapable of understanding as they can't possibly feel how severe depression can impact your normal way of life.
Offering advice based on normal thinking just adds to the misery depressed individuals already have.
So many factors enter into what causes such depression and it's no simple matter to resolve.

Food to some helps relieve some of the depression as it's a crutch just like a drug, sex, alcohol and other addictions.
Then the depression is compounded by what happens through emotional eating.
So its a downward spiral with no way of helping ones self. There is no magic bullet for this disorder.
Identifying what is causing the depression or stress is a start. Understand that what it was that caused the stress and depression can be reversed with focusing on what needs to be done.
However, one shouldn't expect immediate results. The condition gradually increased to a point where it is today, and its a gradual process in the healing. To be sure a slow process.
Not much can be done by the person with the disorder, but a lot can be done by those in that persons life.

First they need to know that everything that is advised falls on deaf ears because it's usually expectations, and depressed people cannot deal with what's expected of them.
Instead, a tremendous amount of patience and total understanding in that the person needs comforting words relative to making the person feel relaxed instead of getting more stressed as a result of not being understood. What is white to the normal mind is black to the depressed mind.

To try to understand what someone is going through, just put yourself in a situation whereas you were so sick that you could not even get out of bed, and those who are well, keep expecting you to jump up and get motivated. You simply can't do it. But depression is even more disabling in that they become completely immobilized.
The best way to deal, is learning to understand how important it is not to lose patience or put demands for the person to snap out of it. Nor should one put their own spin on what that person is feeling and how to get out of it.

Professional help can be the start, but that's only the beginning. Every day must be like a building of a foundation, and in the case of the depressed person its a foundation for improvement.
Let me draw a parallel as to why its so hard for those who suffer as such.
I'm sure you can balance yourself if walking on a railroad track at ground level for a while.

But if your afraid of heights, and that track is a thousand feet up in the sky with nothing underneath, not only won't you be able to balance yourself, by you'll lay on the track and hold on for dear life with your eyes closed, and hope its a nightmare that will go away.
In short, its a state of panic which paralyzes ones normal ability to function.
So in many cases, food is somewhat of an escape for them. Hence the eating disorder.

Learn more about this author, Richard Serra.
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