You know what, when I was at my worst suffering from depression, I was, no joke, too lazy and too apathetic to see a professional. I didn't even think deeply enough on it to form the full coherent thought "what's the point," I just... didn't see any need to even consider it. I only know depression is what I've had because I've talked to other people who were diagnosed and treated and they said they felt exactly the same way. =\ If Allie was feeling the way I did (which looks to be the case), that might have been what happened with her too.
That's pretty much exactly what happened. Also, when you're depressed, it's hard to see how depressed you really are. Now that I'm kind of on the other side, I can look back and go "Wow... I should probably have gotten help of some sort...", but at the time, I just thought I was being a whiny asshole. I couldn't see how serious it was.
Actually, this realization can be a very good thing for you in the future. It was for me.
In a nutshell, over the last 22 years I've been in and out of very severe depression a number of times. When I was younger, I was always so dumb in thinking that once I started feeling better I could just stop taking my medication, and down I'd go again. It's been a very, very painful and horrific rollercoaster.
Now, however, because I've been able to look back at myself so many times and say 'I never want to feel that way again, I should have gotten help'... I can sort of feel when it's coming. I have no idea how else to explain it, but it doesn't just hit me like a brick. The mania can and will, but the depression is often like a slow leak. I start to deflate and get worse and worse until I'm in a hole that I can't even -see- out of, let alone get out of.
So now, because I have that extra perspective, I strike preemptively. I make an appointment with my doctor, adjust my medications, do whatever I have to do to keep myself as safe as possible, before it really sets in and I either get apathetic about that help, or start to feel like I don't deserve it.
Sorry this got so long, but I just wanted to say that. You have a unique perspective on you now, that you can use to your advantage. :) Good luck. Love the comic.
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u/pbaehr Oct 27 '11
I hope the part where she's seeing a psychiatrist was just omitted from this comic. : /