October: Depression Awareness

Good evening everyone and welcome to The Magical Mystery Blog.

October is a wonderful month. It’s a time to get spooky, watch the seasons change, and to observe the various awareness this month raises. While October is mostly noted for Breast Cancer Awareness, AIDS Awareness, and many others, it also showcases Depression Awareness.

Depression is a hard hitting mental illness and in October (especially on October 8^th) most places offer free screenings for it. Growing up, I’ve encountered depression from myself, my friends, or the world around me. It’s a complicated battle that’s worth the victory.

Needless to say, October is a great time for Depression Awareness and only now do I find it conveniently strange. October is when the weather starts to grow colder which can trigger SAD (Seasonal  Affect Disorder). SAD is a condition affected by the weather – the colder it becomes, the more depressed you become. You may gain too much sleep, you may lose sleep, you may become irritable, not want to eat, and possibly withdraw from social activity. It usually occurs around the same time for anyone who has it.

In the sense, I find that screening for depression when SAD begins is nipping the disorder in the butt. Should depression be discovered within the screening, methods can be done to counteract it as well as prevent SAD.  SAD and depression have similar symptoms and treatments such as light therapy, talk therapy, and even the use of medication.

Should you or you know of anyone who has depression, please refer them to all the events October has for depression awareness. There’s multiple free screenings, counselors to talk to, and seminars diagnosing symptoms of depression. Even outside this month, there’s hotlines, therapy groups (both virtual and physical), and so many other things that can be done to ward off this illness. Do not let depression consume or win – it must be fought and dominated for a better life.

Thank you for reading tonight’s entry. If you enjoyed it, feel free to comment, critique, share, and subscribe.

So tell me, what will you do to raise awareness for depression?