Though Michelle Williams now has multiple albums to her name and was a member of the well-known group, ‘Destiny’s Child’, she had doubts for years that she’d be a successful singer. That doesn’t mean she didn’t have a prolific history in music. By the age of seven, she was performing at church and even went on to be a part of gospel groups.
Despite the great start, Michelle pursued a degree in Criminal Justice when she graduated high school.
Two years into her course of study, music beckoned again and she left Indiana State University to become a backup singer for a variety of artists including Monica. After a chance meeting with Beyonce Knowles and Kelly Rowland, she auditioned successfully to join ‘Destiny’s Child’ in 2000.
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Though the group only stayed together for another few years, Michelle released solo music that made an impact in both the pop and gospel circles.
Since her message has always been inspirational and centered on optimism, it was hard for her to finally ask for help when she wasn’t feeling as happy as everyone said she should. While she’s had these feelings since her teenage years, it wasn’t until the age of 30 that she was finally diagnosed with depression.
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What Is Depression?
Depression is much more than feeling sad or dealing with grief. It’s a chronic illness that has a significant impact on how you feel, act, and manage daily activities.
It’s unlikely for everyone to have all the listed symptoms of depression but a few of the typical ones include chronic fatigue, loss of interest in activities that you used to enjoy, constantly feeling sad, trouble sleeping, changes in your appetite, unexplained irritability, and feelings of worthlessness.
The causes of depression are not always clear-cut but there is evidence that the illness can be hereditary. Constant exposure to trauma and a chemical imbalance in your body may also increase your risk of developing depression.
How Depression Is Diagnosed
Diagnosing depression requires a physical examination, a psychiatric evaluation, and several lab tests. The tests are necessary to ensure that a physical condition isn’t the cause of your depression. They will also help your doctor determine if depression is a symptom of a more complicated mental disorder such as bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, or disruptive mood dysregulation disorder.
If you’re diagnosed with depression, the doctor will also want to narrow your condition down to one or more of eight possible specifiers. These specifiers help pinpoint specific characteristics of your depression and include anxious distress, psychotic features, catatonia, and melancholic features.
Michelle Williams: “Depression Felt Like A Slow Crumble”
Treatment Options For Depression
Once you have a diagnosis, confirming an effective treatment program will be the next step. In most cases, this will start with finding out which medications work best for you.
There is a wide variety of antidepressant drugs but they typically fall into one of the following categories: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), atypical antidepressants, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). You may also get prescribed antipsychotics or anti-anxiety medications depending on your symptoms.
Psychotherapy can also be an integral part of your treatment as you’ll talk to a mental health professional about living with the condition.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), in particular, has been shown to be effective in the treatment of depression as it focuses on recognizing negative thinking so you can change it.
Studies show that Blacks are just as likely to experience depression as other ethnicities. However, they don’t seek help readily or necessarily get the treatment they need. If you’re feeling any of the symptoms of depression, it’s a good idea to take Michelle Williams’ advice and let someone know that you need help.
