Imagine being depressed, so severely depressed you couldn’t live a normal life and carry out your day-to-day activities. People used to think it was all in your head, and that if you really tried, you could snap out of it or just get over it.
We now know that depression is more than a weakness and it’s not something you can treat on your own. Depression affects your thoughts, moods, feelings, behavior and even your physical health. The worst thing we can say to someone is get over it.
Depression is more than grieving or having a bout of the blues. Depression is a serious medical illness with a biological and chemical basis that can take a terrible toll on individuals and families. Untreated, depression can lead to a downward spiral of disability, dependency and suicide. Sometimes a stressful life event triggers depression. Other times, depression seems to occur spontaneously with no identifiable specific cause.
There are several types of depression ranging from major depression, seasonal depression, psychotic depression and postpartum depression.
More than 18.8 million people in the United States suffer from depression. Depression may occur only once in a person’s life. However, it often occurs repeatedly over one’s lifetime with periods free of depression in between. For many, it may even be a chronic condition, requiring ongoing treatment over a lifetime.
Signs and symptoms of depression include:
• Sadness
• Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
• Loss of energy
• Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Difficulty making decisions
• Insomnia or excessive sleep
• Stomach-ache and digestive problems
• Sexual problems (such as a decreased sex drive)
• Aches and pains (such as recurrent headaches)
• A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
• Thoughts of death, suicide or self-mutilation
• Self-mutilation or attempting suicide
Suicide is often a result of a major depressive episode. If you or someone you know is demonstrating any of the following warning signs, contact a mental health professional right away, or go to the emergency room for treatment.
• Thoughts or talk of death or suicide like, “If I weren’t around,” or, “The world would be better off with out me,” or, “If I were never born.”
• Thoughts or talk of self-harm or harm to others
• Aggressive behavior or impulsiveness
• Giving personal items away, writing dark poetry
Most people who are suicidal or attempt suicide don’t really want to die; they just don’t want to feel the hurt and the pain any more. However, previous suicide attempts increase the risk for future suicide attempts and completed suicide. All mentions of suicide or violence must be taken seriously.
If you or someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression, seek your healthcare provider’s advice for treatment or source a referral to a mental healthcare professional.
Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital treats mental health patients 18 years of age and older in a modern 23-bed facility. Emergency crisis intervention is also available via the emergency room.
There is no shame in asking for help if you suspect you or someone you love suffers from depression. Seeking help is a sign of strength, not a weakness. One needs to take care of his/her mental health just as much as their physical health. You owe it yourself and those you love.
To learn more about mental health issues and depression, contact the National Mental Health Association at 800-969-6642, the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill at 800-950-6264 or the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance at 800-826-3632.