Trigger warning: This article discusses major depressive disorder and its symptoms. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, please seek help from a trusted professional.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental disorders to exist – it is a state where a dark mood is all-consuming and one loses interest in activities, even ones that are usually pleasurable and, unfortunately, it is very misunderstood by society. Depression, or major depressive disorder is not simply, as deemed by society, a state of sadness – but a severe state of mind that can be detrimental to a suffering individual, so much so, that it can lead to mental paralysis.
What is Mental Paralysis?
Though mental paralysis is commonly experienced by victims of trauma and/or abuse that suffer from disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), MDD patients are sometimes no strangers to this mental consumption. Major depressive disorder affects how you feel, think, and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and sometimes you may feel as if life is not worth living – ultimately leading to the inability to take part in daily life as one would normally.
Some examples of this may include not being able to get out of bed, not being able to take a shower for elongated periods of time, loss of appetite or interest in the consumption of food, and more. Not only does the individual feel paralyzed mentally, but physically, too. Put simply, a patient suffering from mental paralysis associated with major depressive disorder feels as though life is not worth living, which results in not being able to complete everyday duties.
How to Solve This Problem
Though major depressive disorder, and many other mental health disorders alike, cannot be solved easily, if you or someone that you know is experiencing these symptoms or feelings, it is of great significance to seek professional help from a trusted individual. In most cases, it is common that an individual experiencing MDD will seek help from a psychiatrist – who will prescribe medication to treat the symptoms, as well as partake in therapy in order to learn coping mechanisms as well as mindfulness techniques that will provide a more positive outlook on life.
Remember, although it is important to seek help, change starts within you, but it is okay not to be okay.