Depression
Depression is not something you've made up in your head, depression is a serious illness and as such must be diagnosed and treated.
Almost everybody has had a depressive experience at one time or another of his life. It's a normal reaction to life's struggles, a significant loss, an injured self-esteem.
But when this feeling becomes very intense and lasts for a longer time, preventing the individual from leading a normal life, then it turns into a serious mental condition.
Unfortunately, most people with depression never seeek help because of the negative connotations associated with mental illnesses. Undiagnosed and untreated, depression may last for years causing unnecessary suffering and sometimes ending in suicide.
Quiz Time...
Ask yourself the following questions. Answer yes if you've been feeling this way consistently over a period of two weeks or more.
1. Do you find yourself constantly sad?
2. Are you un-motivated to do simple things like shower. clean up the house or make dinner?
3. Do people tell you you're over irritable?
4. Do you have trouble concentrating?
5. Do you feel isolated from familly or friends even when they are around you?
6. Have you lost interest in your favorite activities?
7. Do you feel hopeless, worthless or guilty for no reason at all?
8. Are you always tired and have trouble sleeping?
9. Has your weight fluctuated significantly?
If you answered YES to five or more of these questions, you could be suffering from clinical depression.
It is important that you seek help and treatment. Most people who have had one episode of depression will sooner or later have another one. Treating depression is specially important because it not only affects you but also your family, your work, your social life.
Types of Depression
There are
different types of depression, including:
Major depression
- is characterized by a
combination of symptoms (many of them described on the above questions
)
that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat and enjoy
once pleasurable activities. A
profound and constant sense of hopelessness and despair is present in
an individual suffering from major depression.
Bipolar depression
- it's also called "manic-depressive" disease and it causes
people to have severe high and low moods, switching from feeling happy
and joyful
to extremely sad. It's called bipolar because of the highs and lows,
the two poles of mood. A person may experience the same mood several
times before experiencing the opposite mood. The intensity of the
depressive and manic phase can vary from person to person. Chronic depression or Dysthymia
- it's a less severe form of depression but the symptoms
(which
are the same as those of major depression) prevail for a long
period of time. In most cases the individual is able to function
normally but seems constantly unhappy. Seasonal depression
- also called "seasonal affective disorder", it occurs each
year normally at the same time, starting in fall or winter and ending
in spring or early summer. People affected present common depression
symptoms like anxiety,sadness, irritability, loss of interest in normal
activities, etc. Psychotic depression
- in addition to all symptoms of major depression includes
delusions (irrational fears and thoughts) and hallucinations (hearing
or seeing things that aren't there). Great risk of suicide is present.
Postpartum depression - occurs
after giving birth and involves complex physical and emotional behavior
changes. Symptoms include alternate highs and lows, irritability and
fatigue, frequent crying, feeling of guilt, anxiety and inability to
care for your baby or yourself.
"
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance."
Andrea Boydston
Seven Tips To Help You Fight Depression
1. Practice exercise every day.
2. Avoid alcohol and drugs.
3. Get some sunlight, a lot of if possible.
4. Do things you enjoy.
5. Eat a healthy diet.
6. Get enough sleep but not too much.
7. Try some relaxation techniques daily.
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