SHARES
Depression? What is that?
Depression is an unmerciful thing. Regardless of who you are or what you believe in, it is something that can happen to anybody. There are four points that we have to understand about depression:
- Depression is a REAL illness.
- Depression is TREATABLE.
- Depression affects people in DIFFERENT ways.
- If you have depression, you are NOT ALONE.
How Depression affects a person?
When a person suffers from depression, one’s daily life and regular functioning is badly affected. There is persistency in feeling sad, empty or constantly anxious. There are several other symptoms like decreased energy, concentration and even getting proper sleep. Everything here is just words though; because being in the situation of a depression sufferer is beyond scarier than words.
Park Bom of 2NE1 suffered from depression after witnessing the death of her friend during childhood. Image source
Who are the victims of depression?
When I say anybody can be affected by depression, I mean it. Even the toughest men or the people whom everyone admired can be a victim. Who am I talking about? It’s Dwayne Douglas Johnson, otherwise more known as ‘The Rock’. Yes, you’ve seen him on the WWF rinks and even in the silver screens doing action packed movies and such but there is this hidden side that wasn’t known to the public beyond what they see on television/cinema.
Just recently, well-known celebrity and television host, Oprah Winfrey started a new series called Oprah’s Master Class which is a series of episodes which tells you the stories you’ve never heard, from the people you think you know best. Different people were selected to tell their untold life stories, all personally hand-picked by Oprah herself for their unique impacts to the people. These people share their successes, failures, heartbreaks, triumphs and so on. Among these people selected there was Ellen DeGeneres, Justin Timberlake and Dwayne Johnson himself.
When did depression occur for Dwayne?
“I wish I had someone at that time who could just pull me aside and [say], ‘Hey, it’s going to be okay.”
Dwayne’s depression started around the age of 23, where he battled depression in his parent’s small apartment. He was cut from the team, the Calgary Stampeders after playing for the Canadian Football League for a short time. That was of course, his lowest point of life and he felt like there everything he yearned for has fallen apart. But that was when faith came in. He clung onto it and made it better till today.
During a point in the episode, the Fast & Furious 7 star noted “I found that with depression one of the most important things you could realize is that you’re not alone”.
How did The Rock counter his depression?
“The only anchor I was able to hold onto during those hard times was faith.”
His father was the help he needed. The team coach who cut him actually called him back, asking if he wanted to join the team again. He rejected the offer. At that point where he completely gave up on his hopes on advancing in football, his father asked him what he wanted to do next. He told his father that he didn’t want to do football anymore, he wanted to get into the wrestling business (Now for those of you who may not have known, his father himself is a wrestler.). His father objected at first, saying that he was throwing his career away and ruining it. However, Dwayne had faith in the voice in his heart; he insisted that he wanted to go into the wrestling field instead. He asked his father if he would train him or not; and the father agreed on training him thus leading him to become the successful happy-go-lucky person that he is today.
Depiction of a depressed person. Image source
Even in this episode itself we could see how depression can happen to anyone regardless of your background, is a real illness that is treatable and most importantly, you are definitely not alone.
How can you battle depression?
If you ever find yourself depressed, in need of help or company to help you get back on your feet, don’t keep it all to yourself but seek help. Depression starts from your inner demons, but it is up to you to take the step to change and make your life better. Where to start looking? I would personally suggest seeking the Befrienders.
The Befrienders Homepage. Click on the image to be directed to the site.
by Nicky Lee
Your typical neighbourhood ah pek who roams on the internet to satisfy his curiosity. Bold. Loud. Talkative. View all articles by Nicky Lee.
