Depression

     

       Two people in my life that suffer from the same mental illness are my mother, Tracy, and my twin sister, Kellie. They both have been diagnosed with depression. My mother has had depression for 30 years, while my sister has had it for six years. I decided to interview them to see how each of them has been effected and how they cope with this mental illness differently.

• When and how were you diagnosed with having depression?
• Tracy- "I was in high school and seeing a family counselor after my parents divorced. He sent me to a psychiatrist where I was diagnosed with depression."
• Kellie- "I was diagnosed at a mental facility because I had made several attempts at taking my own life when I was around 13 years old."
• What are the symptoms of your depression that effect you?
• Tracy- "I have mood swings and anxiety. There are days that I feel like I just want to stay in my bed and be by myself, however on these days I also feel sad because I am not around people so its a lose-lose situation." 
• Kellie-"I have a lack of energy, interest, exhaustion, migraines, a tendency to become ill, mood swings, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, thoughts of self harm and just a general sadness that I can not seem to shake. These are all things that I really experience when I do not take my medication."
• What worked and what did not work in managing your symptoms?
• Tracy- "I used to go to counseling three times a week, which helped, but it was expensive. Some medications that I took helped, some did not and had more negative effects on me. It is a trial and error. I am on a medication now that is helping me a lot." 
• Kellie-"My medication really helps me not feel the symptoms of depression as strong. I found that therapy did not help me at all."
• What are some of the major challenges or difficulties that you face having depression?
• Tracy-"Well again there are the days that I just want to seclude myself in my room. I find it hard to want to interact. I also have anxiety and get real anxious when I am around crowds or for example when I go to the store." 
• Kellie-"My major challenge is having to always rely on medication. But also just fitting in or being active."
• How would you describe living with depression?
• Tracy-"It has been difficult, especially after having two daughters and wanting to be fully involved with their lives. I would say that it is debilitating. Having depression can manifest itself in physical pain, so not only are you suffering mentally but also physically."
• Kellie-"Horrible. debilitating. For me personally, being a twin and having depression is really hard. I find myself not only comparing myself to others but especially to her, when I really do not need to." 
• What are some of treatments that you have gone through for your depression? Or how do you approach treating your depression?
• Tracy- "Some of the treatments that I have tried are counselling and medication. But I believe the best approach is prayer." 
• Kellie-"I have tried therapy, in and out patient treatment, various types of medications. The only thing that I really found that will help me is taking my medication." 
• Who has helped you? Who has not helped you?
• Tracy-"My mother and husband have played a key role in helping me. As well as my primary care physician." 
• Kellie-"My psychiatrist has really helped and has been the one who has prescribed me with different medications to try on my journey with depression. Therapist are the main people who have not helped me." 
• How is your quality of life now that you have been diagnosed with depression and have had it for several years?
• Tracy-"There was a time when I was not on my medication and I would say that life was awful. Now that they have me on a good medication, that is really helping me, I have a really good life right now."  
• Kellie-"My quality of life is almost normal with treatment and I have learned that as long as I take my medication that I will be able to interact normally with people that do not have depression." 
• What is it like having a daughter/parent also have depression?
• Tracy-"It makes me sad that my daughter has to experience this because I know what she is going through." 
• Kellie-"Even though she gave it to me genetically, I like having a parent understand and know what I am going through." 

       I learned a lot by talking to my mother and sister about how much depression really effects them, as well as just how helpful their medication has been in providing them with as little symptoms as possible. Medication as for sure played a key role in their improvement and in managing their mental illness. I know that after having interviewed each of them that they are grateful for the help that their doctors have given them and the relief that has come through medication. But they both know that the greatest of all help has and continues to come from God. I may never know truly what they are going through, but talking to them is the best way to get a better understanding of this mental illness. I hope that with this interview that you were enlightened through the eyes of two people that have the same mental illness but deal with it in their own ways.