Why Depression 101?
Life for me was no longer “normal.” For months, I was confused and extremely emotional. I was one of those people who never cried, yet now I couldn’t stop.
One evening, I found myself in the Costco parking lot, just sitting alone in my car, sobbing uncontrollably from the depths of my soul. Gazing through the window, in the distance, was a small dark cloud moving closer and closer in my direction. As the cloud approached, it grew larger and darker the closer it came. Soon, I felt like this cloud had engulfed me, and I was suffocating. Not knowing what to do, I called out to God, “God, You have to help me. I don’t know what’s happening to me.”
Soon after, I was diagnosed with Clinical Depression. What did that even mean? What was it? How did I get it? How long will it last? How do I get rid of it? So many questions and few answers.
Given that this scenario took place in early 2003, surprisingly, very little was known about mental illness. Despite decades of research, there were still only a few antidepressants currently being used, such as Prozac. There were no commercials on TV or celebrities sharing their own stories. I felt like I was on my own deserted island.
Why wasn’t I feeling loved? Probably because my illness, Clinical Depression, has a way of distorting what is true, which leads to reckless thinking that leads to the belief that I am unloved. What I did know was that I needed people to help guide me through this illness.
Then God revealed to me that the reason wasn’t that people didn’t love me but that they knew so very little about my illness. That’s when God began prompting me to do something that would help people.
“Judy, EDUCATE them!”
“Make a website that will offer helpful articles, videos, inspirational music, links to similar websites, and share your stories. Then, they will know how to help and encourage their loved ones.”
So that is what I did.
I created Depression 101: Mental Illness is an Illness
You have come to the right place if you want to know how to show love and encourage that person in your life who is struggling with a mental illness.
DEPRESSION 101 EXISTS TO HELP YOU BECOME:
EDUCATED regarding the disease of Clinical Depression.
ENLIGHTENED regarding the impact that this disease has
on your loved one’s entire mind, body, and emotions.
EMPATHETIC through your continual demonstration of love, understanding, and support.
It may be time for you to go back to school!