Are You Depressed?

It is important to understand that depression and sadness are different. The death of a loved one, loss of a relationship, termination of a job, including retirement, will cause us to feel sad. Grief is a normal response to these situations. Individuals experiencing challenging times will often remark that he or she feels depressed. However, sadness, grief and depression are not the same. Feelings of sadness and grief will lessen with time while depression can continue for months and years, if untreated.

Does this seem like you?
Read the following list and put a check mark next to each symptom that you are experiencing:

• I am really sad most of the time
  
• I don't enjoy doing the things I've always enjoyed doing
  
• I have difficulty sleeping at night
  
• I often feel fatigued
  
• Getting up in the morning is challenging
  
• I feel better as the day goes on compared to when I first awoke
  
• My eating habits have changed: Generally, I eat more than usual or I eat less than usual
  
• I have very little, if any, sexual energy
  
• I am very forgetful throughout the day "
  
• I find it hard to focus on the simple things of life. Even counting change has become challenging
  
• I often feel angry
  
• I feel anxious, and fearful with no apparent reason
  
• I prefer to stay alone rather than socialize
  
• I feel pessimistic about life in general, and am not sure I want to continue living
  
• I feel disappointed in myself
  
• I feel bad (physically and emotionally) most of the time
  
• I have thoughts about my death
  
• I think about how I might kill myself

If you checked any of these boxes, call your doctor.

Note: Source for list - National Institute of Mental Health/NIMH (some revisions)

How is depression treated?

Medicine: Antidepressants may take several weeks before you begin to feel better.

Talk therapy: Talk therapy helps you to change the way you think, feel and behave to support you in feeling better.

Tips for day-to-day living while moving through depression:

• Set reasonable goals for yourself
  
• Set priorities; do what you can
  
• Break large tasks into small ones
  
• Take everything at your own pace
  
• Stay connected with others
  
• Take walks and exercise if acceptable to your physician
  
• Shift pessimistic thinking to hopeful thoughts

Use by permission of www.losethebackpain.com

Where can I get help?
Dr. Margaret McCraw
Institute of Vibrational Synchronicity (IVS)
www.margaretmccraw.com/counseling.htm
877/366-9111

National Mental Health Association
www.nmha.org
703/684-7722

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
www.nimh.nih.gov
866/615-6464

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
www.nami.org
800/950-6264

© 2006 by Margaret McCraw, Ph.D., author of Tune Into Love