Ten Misconceptions About Depression In Jamaicans That Had Gone Way Too Far.

Firstly, let me not mislead you. I won't be listing out misconceptions but I will be discussing depression in Jamaica, based on my own experiences.Is it wrong to say, "I am depressed"? It often feels that way. As young people, what should we really have to be depressed about? I can truthfully say that I have struggled with depression on and off from my childhood but due to the stigma attached to depression, especially in young people, I kept quiet. I suffered in silence until it became unbearable. Then, I opened up. When I started to open up, I was mocked, told I was too weak, and that I wasn't trying hard enough to make my life better. Speaking up, could send you into an even deeper depression.

What happens? We become even more withdrawn or in some cases it manifests itself into anger and we damage relationships and friendships. What about family? Ideally family should be the first source of comfort and understanding but that often isn't the case. Parents themselves turn a blind eye to depression or simply downplay its severity. What do we do? We continue to live in a world that gives us daily reasons as to why we shouldn't. We fight internal battles while we paint on faces of togetherness. We are constantly tired because we have to masks our struggles as a means of protecting our already vulnerable situations. Social media is an escape but it is also a hindrance to betterment. On one side we see other young people with similar struggles and on the other side we see young people who seem to have never dipped their feet in the pool of depression. We tend to focus more on the second side and what happens? We become even more depressed.

How does one survive as a depressed young Jamaican?

For me, I take time out of each day to evaluate, reflect and re purpose. What does this mean? It means that you have to find a way to escape to rediscover self and purpose. This evaluation should be independent on not dependent on any other human being. You have to spend this time with yourself to work on yourself. One of the most important things to do is to find your passion. My passion has saved me and continues to save me. When you find something that you are passionate about, it allows you to centre yourself in a more positive life. Most importantly, you have to accept that some Jamaicans will never try or want to understand what it is like to be depressed.

How do you escape depression permanently?

I don't believe that you escape depression permanently. I believe that you have to learn to live with and through it. It is natural to have moments of depression. It is natural to feel defeated and at a stand still. I allow myself a hour at the end of each week to meditate on the week that has ended and to re purpose for the week to come. The words will hurt. The misunderstandings will hurt. The lackadaisical attitude will hurt. You have to find a space to find space within it all. This isn't a race to see how quickly you can overcome. This isn't a story for you to have the most motivational experience to share at the end. Take your time and discover what brings you, your own peace. Therapy is a bad word in Jamaica! Can we get over it already! Normalize speaking to a therapist! Normalize getting help! Not everyone can figure it out on their own nor is there any proven argument that says that you must figure it out on your own. Speak to a professional who will provide you with the help that be more specific to your struggles.

Church ministry without God

Have you ever been to a church service and when the singers are singing you feel nothing? You can hear the words coming out of their mouths but they have no conviction whatsoever? Music is one of the most important parts of church ministry and if God isn't in it, it shouldn't be called Gospel music to begin with. Some singers in church sing for self! They know they are blessed with beautiful voices so they use the church to showcase it but it isn't about ministry. It is simply to let people know what they have going on. They stand before you and they have blank expressions on their faces, while they sing such powerful lyrics. They aren't moved by it but they somehow expect that the congregation will be. The next issue is that of the modern day Gospel music. Call me old fashion but it isn't my flavour at all. Why should I have to be wondering whether I'm listening to Gospel or I'm at a dancehall event? Why does the church have to change itself to resemb...

Be more thankful

It's so easy for us to complain it's like we do it everyday. Are we more thankful for the blessings we have no matter how small they seem? It seems to me that more than ever people are more ungrateful than they are grateful. No matter how bad things are always remember that they could be much worse. Our house isn't big so we complain rather than be thankful that we have a house. Our pay cheque is small so we complain rather than be thankful that we have a job. Our skin isn't flawless so we complain instead of be thankful that we still have our skin to protect our bodies. Our body isn't sculpted perfectly so we complain instead of being thankful that all our body parts are still functioning. Our world is very ungrateful and we can never seem to be satisfied no matter how many blessings we have. This week I ask of you to be thankful for something everyday no matter how small it may seem.

This World

A world where people don't love you if you can't supply them with all the material things they need. A world where people marry just to get citizenship in a country. A world where the most educated aren't the ones given the best of jobs. A world where the television and internet are left to teach our children values. A world where the leaders of the church spend more money on church buildings tha n feeding the poor. A world where children receive guns before they receive a book to read. A world where in one half of the world people fight for an apple to eat while in the other we pick,choose and refuse what to eat. A world where we cry when we have no new clothes or shoes but some have never felt the warmth of a shirt and pants on their cold flesh. A world where politicians get increases in pay while the citizens are placed on wage freeze for years. A world where everybody proclaims they can't trust anybody. A world where girls value are always occupied with their look...

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