Recognizing Depression
June 23, 2008
Despite increases in the diagnosis and treatment of depression, there is still much we don't know about its cause and effects. But we do know that:
- Depression is more than just feeling 'blue'. Depression is an illness - a sadness so persistent that it interferes with our ability to function day-to-day.
- Early diagnosis of depression is vital. Untreated depression can have devastating effects on our overall health and well-being, and can contribute to many serious illnesses - including heart disease, stroke and cancer. Depression can also be fatal (i.e., suicide).
- Depression won't just 'go away.' When someone is depressed, chemical changes can occur in the brain that may only be treatable through medication.
- Medication isn't the magic answer to treating depression. Counselling is also necessary to understand why the depression happened and to learn the coping skills necessary to avoid becoming depressed again.
- Depression can be a sign of another, more serious illness or the side effect of a drug prescribed for other health issues. Seeing a doctor is vital so that you can eliminate health problems that the depression may be hiding.
Warning signs of depression
When we are depressed, we are not ourselves. Changes in the way we act, think and cope may make us feel like a stranger to ourselves. Most prevalent in depression are all-encompassing feelings of sadness and hopelessness. Depression also affects our capacity to take care of ourselves or others, and to function successfully at school or work.
The symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent sadness, hopelessness, pessimism, despair
- Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed - feeling flat, empty, apathetic, you have trouble just facing a new day
- Fatigue, lethargy, not sleeping enough or sleeping too much
- Social withdrawal, avoiding people and activities that you usually enjoy
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Increase or decrease in appetite along with weight gain or loss
- Easy to tears, uncontrollable and unexplained crying
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, self-loathing, self-disappointment
- Unexplained feelings of anxiety and panic
- Ruminating (going over the same thoughts or scenarios in your mind, over and over again, which leaves you feeling anxious and stressed while not having solved the problem)
- Feeling helpless or easily overwhelmed by situations that you'd usually have no trouble handling
- Impatience; unexplained, unjustified or intense anger
- Trouble with concentration and memory
- Neglect of self (change in hygiene habits, perhaps you don't shower as often, stay in your pyjamas all day or generally lose interest in looking good)
If you are experiencing a number of these symptoms, you are at risk and should call your doctor right away. Additional resources are available in your phone book: Refer to the front for listings of distress centres providing 24-hour assistance to those in crisis. Check your white pages for your local Canadian Mental Health Association.
If you are experiencing suicidal feelings or fantasies about death, call 911 immediately or visit your local hospital emergency room.
What's coming up
Next month we will look at why some of us are more at risk for depression than others. In August, we'll discuss strategies for 'immunizing' ourselves against depression.
What is Take Care?
"Health and wellness" is one of those phrases that, while popular, is becoming a bit of a cliché these days. While overused, "health and wellness" is often misunderstood and can have different meanings for different people.
I like to simplify things. So rather than calling this just a "health and wellness column," I have decided to call it, Take Care. I have chosen Take Care because that is what I will be writing about - how you can take care of yourself.
Don't worry. I won't be throwing facts and statistics at you - although I may occasionally share the title of a great book or the link to an awesome website. Neither do I claim to be a great guru with all of life's answers. What I can offer is the experience that I have gained from 43 years as a human being, 20 years in human services and almost a decade of living with chronic illness.
Let's face it; we live in a crazy world these days. We are constantly barraged by the demands on our time, attention and energy. Many of us are working full-time, managing a home, raising children and taking care of our parents … in some cases even our grandparents (or grandchildren…). We never seem to get away from the ringing of cell phones, the beeping of text messages and the growing pile of email messages in our inboxes - not to mention the old fashioned paper way of communicating.
Just when we think we are on top of it all, we decide to do something crazy like take a vacation … and we have to work twice as hard to get ready before we go away and three times as hard to catch up when we get back.
The body isn't made to be under constant stress. Constant stress leads to physical changes in the body and the mind that can contribute to serious illness. So don't tell me you can't afford the time to take care of yourself because I'll tell you that you can't afford NOT to take care.
Think of "Take Care" as a place to start … a place to start thinking about some very basic ways that you can take better care of yourself.
Why not start by visiting our website each month and reading this column?
Take care,
Kristin
About the author
Kristin has two decades of experience in the not-for-profit and social services sector, ten of those years spent running her own business - KDM Program & Management Services. Through KDM, Kristin provides contract, short-term and recurring program and management support to the not-for-profit sector. Services include - but are not limited to - public relations and marketing, website planning and content development, proposal writing, program evaluation and development, and project management and coordination. To reach Kristin, click here.
Copyright
The column, Take Care, and its contents are copyright, Kristin Duare McKinnon, all rights reserved. You may download, display, print and / or reproduce this material in single, unaltered form only - retaining copyright notice and author information - for your personal, non-commercial use. You must not change any of the material or remove any part of the article or notices that follow. For further information or to use the information contained in any Take Care column outside of the parameters indicated here, please contact Kristin.
Disclaimers
The information provided in the Take Care column is of a general nature only and is not intended as a substitute for professional health advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any personal medical and health questions that you may have. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website or any other website.
We have made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in the Take Care column is accurate and up-to-date. To the extent permitted by law, Kristin Duare McKinnon and Community Living Kawartha Lakes accept no liability for any injury, loss or damage caused by reliance on any part of this information.
Please also read our external website disclaimer.
