[One Thousand Characters a Day] Studying Depression for Precious People <1>

Editor's NoteThe desire to help a loved one suffering from depression, and the wish to do anything possible, is common to all families of patients. However, despite the intention, many are unable to provide the crucial support their loved ones need?support that could even save the family?due to lack of knowledge or circumstances. ＜Studying Depression for the Sake of a Loved One＞ was written by an author who spent seven years treating his wife with treatment-resistant severe depression, sharing his experience and know-how to help other families of depression patients. It goes beyond relying solely on hospital treatment and includes many things families should do to supplement insufficient medical care. The author's lecture, "Seven Years of Dangerous Cohabitation with Depression, a Miraculous Escape Story," can be viewed on the YouTube channel 'Sebasi (15 Minutes to Change the World).' Word count: 956.

Depression and anxiety disorders often coexist because their exact chronological relationship is unclear and they tend to occur around the same time. When patients first visit a hospital, they are often diagnosed with either depression or an anxiety disorder alone, so receiving both diagnoses during ongoing treatment can be quite surprising. This is less about the illness worsening and more about receiving a clearer diagnosis after monitoring the course during treatment, but patients rarely have the luxury to think this way.

Dealing with depression alone is hard enough, but adding anxiety and panic disorder makes it unbearable. Many expect to recover quickly by simply taking antidepressants consistently, but experiencing panic attacks and feeling physical symptoms can be terrifying. The inability to breathe and the pounding heart raise worries about possible heart problems, making each day feel like hell. Even when visiting the hospital, only anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications are prescribed, with no special treatments available, leading to an increase in medications and growing concerns about whether recovery is possible, whether they have become strange, or whether they will turn into the deranged people seen on TV.

In severe cases, even the improvement in mood from taking antidepressants becomes a source of worry. Patients may think, "Although I feel better now, this is a fake emotion created by the medication. If I have to live my whole life with feelings made by drugs, what meaning does a hollow life have?"

At times like this, if a spouse can carefully understand their partner’s feelings and offer timely, supportive advice, it can be a great help. In reality, depression itself is a pathological state where emotions and moods are not properly controlled, and recovery through antidepressants means regaining one’s original emotions. It is important to explain that these are the patient’s 'real emotions,' not fake feelings created by the medication. It should be conveyed that the medication does not create happiness or good moods, but rather restores brain function that had been diminished, so there is no need to worry.

－ Choi Eui-jong, ＜Studying Depression for the Sake of a Loved One＞, Audiobook, 20,000 KRW

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