Laura D.
You ask, How do I know if I am depressed? or How can I tell if my friend/loved one is depressed? Well, I'm here to help you understand all of it. It is common for people to go through sadness and the grieving process, but depression is different. It is more severe, and lasts longer than two weeks. If not handled with immediate appropriate care, it may lead to undesirable outcomes. I am a survivor of a long battle with Major Depression. I am also a survivor of a young soul that fell victim to the doors of suicide due to not receiving the complete help he needed. I have also thought and attempted it, and I learned that I can help make a difference in the world. I soon found my hope and realized that what I had been told was right>
SUICIDE IS A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO A TEMPORARY PROBLEM>
Depression is a mental illness that can seriously affect a person's feelings, thought patterns, behavior, and quality of life. 20 million adult Americans suffer from Depression every year. Depression is classified as a Mood/Affective Disorder.
There are many factors that cause depression. Chemical and nerve cell disturbances within the brain play an important role in depression. Other types of factors include losing a loved one, relationships, stressful life events, other medical illnesses, drugs/alcohol, etc...
There are a few different types of depression. There is Major Depression which is manifested by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities. A less severe type of depression, Dysthymia, involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not disable, but keep you from functioning at full potential. Another type is Bipolar Disorder, formerly called manic-depressive illness. this one involves cycles of depression and elation or mania. Sometimes the mood switches are rapid and dramatic, but most often gradual. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways that cause serious problems and embarrassment. Depression has also been linked to changes in the seasons. This is known as SAD--seasonal affective disorder.
Signs of DEPRESSION:
�Persistent sadness or empty mood
�Loss of interest in
activities including sex
�Feeling hopeless, worthless, helpless, pessimistic, or guilty
�Fatigue or loss of interest in normal daily activities
�
Substance abuse
�Eating and Sleeping patterns change
�Irritability or increased crying
�Anxiety or panic attacks
�Persistent physical symptoms or pains
�Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
�Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide plans or attempts
Depression is treated with medication, psychotherapy or combination of both. People with SAD are treated with light therapy. In some cases, inpatient care may be necessary. There are many antidepressant medications that work to restore the balance and effectiveness of chemicals and nerve cells in the brain. Psychotherapy is a series of private talks with a psychiatrist where a person discusses the feelings, thoughts, and behavior that cause difficulty. The goal is to help people understand and master their problems so they can function better. it can help a depressed person change negative thought/behavior patterns.
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QUESTIONZ TO ASK YOURSELF:
What could you learn from this situation that would help you in other places in your life?
If things go well in the situation that is making you sad, what do you think this situation will look like when you look back in a year? In five years?
What can you do now to make the worst case scenario less likely? less threatening?
What stories have you been telling yourself about the situation that is making you feel this way? Can you think of a more empowering or helpful story?
What can you do now to take care of yourself? How can you make yourself feel calmer or more comfortable? How can you make sure to do those things?
What is the most pleasurable thing about this moment right now?
Should you put yourself first in this situation?
Have you been putting other people's needs and wants too far ahead of your own? Why do you think their needs/wants are more important than your own?
What is so terrible about this moment right now? Are you making yourself miserable unnecessarily or holding on to something from the past?
Think of someone you admire. How might that person look at the situation that is causing these feelings? What would that person do?
What is your overall mission in life right now?
Are you trying to do more than is reasonable?
What is the reality of this depressing situation? What is the real threat?
If a close friend of yours were in the situation that is making you sad, what would you say to help them get through it? What would you want to help your friend see? What would you want to help your friend do? Apply that to yourself
What advantages do you have in this situation that you would not have in some other circumstance that looks better to you now?
What is the best thing that has happened to you in past few days? Weeks? Months? Year?
What healthy things have you done to get through depressing times before?
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How you may be keeping yourself stuck with depression:
1. Self Harassment--- Some people harass themselves with constant internal fault finding and name calling. I'm stupid, I'm crazy, I'm ugly, I'm bad, etc... They get stuck in the "Why did you...""I should have...""I can't believe myself..." etc... This internal scripts lead to feelings of shame and guilt. These are the same accusations you may have heard from others when you were a child.
2. Dishonest comparisons--- Another thing you might often do is compare yourself with others, only looking for the better qualities in them making yourself look inadequate.
3. Getting out of the "here and now"--- When people begin to feel well they may quickly ruin it by thinking of the negative sad things from the past. If they do think of a good time, they use it only to feel worse about the present.
4. Negative view of the future---As the depressed person looks ahead, they may see nothing but bad things. They then avoid the fact that he has at least an equal chance of being happy.
5. Exaggeration of the negative--- Sometimes we exaggerate an event and then react with feelings so strongly. Blowing things out of proportion.
6. Making arbitrary interpretations---Interpreting situations in negative ways happens more often than we would like. At times there may not even be any factual evidence to support the interpretation.
7. Visual images of misery--- Some people keep themselves depressed by creating pictures of themselves in their head as weak, miserable, poor, and helpless.
8. Getting too little positive reinforcement--- People's interactions with others occur in ways which leads to depression. Infants deprived of stimulation can die. In later life, most of us are able to substitute psychological strokes for physical ones. However, without enough positive strokes, we get depressed. Also, by accepting negative strokes can keep depression around. Some people set themselves up to get blamed and criticized by others. Then they feel bad. "Kick Me"
9. Waiting and Yearning--- Some people never really experienced that they were wanted and loved as children and they are still waiting for the love they needed. they often have trouble saying "no" to others, and let others take advantage of them.
***Major depression, manic
depression (bipolar), anxiety disorders, and schizophrenia are Mental Illnesses that
affect the brain. They are highly recommended to seek help through psychotherapy,
medication, or both.
Medications....
Fluoxetine- Prozac
Paroxetine- Paxil
Venlafaxine- Effexor
Nefazodone- Serzone
Bupropion-Wellbutrin
Sertraline- Zoloft
Tranylcypromine- Parnate
Phenelzine- Nardil
Imipramine- Tofranil
Desipramine- Norpramin Pertofrane
Amitryptyline- Elavil Endep
Trazodone- Desyrel
Protriptyline- Vivactil
Trimipramine- Surmontil
Nortripyline- Aventyl Pamelor
Doxepin- Adapin Sinaquan
Maprotiline- Ludiomil
Amoxapine- Ascendin
Resources........
National Foundation for Depressive
Illnesses (1-800-248-4344)
Has recorded information about depression. You will also receive instructions on
how to get more information and a list of health care providers in your area
that work with depression.
National Institute of Mental Health
(1-800-421-4211)
Call for free brochures, ones in Spanish, information for women and other
groups.
National Mental Health Association
(1-800-969-6642)
Call to get free information on many mental health topics, or to receive a
national directory of local mental health associations.
National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association (1-800-826-3632)
www.save.org or [email protected]
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