Depression
All of us feel down in the dumps from time to time. In a sense, it is perfectly normal and expected that some experiences in life may make us feel down or blue. Examples of this may be the loss of a loved one, losing a job, breaking up a relationship or experiencing sadness about someone else’s misfortune. Contrast this with pervasive and continuous low mood and energy for several weeks or months at a time, and we may be talking about clinical depression.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (2017), Major Depressive Disorder affects 17.3 million people or 7.1% of the U.S. population. Major depression may be present if many of the following symptoms are present for over a 2 week period:
Feelings of Helplessness
Feelings of Hopelessness
Lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities
Feeling down in the dumps or low mood
Lack of energy
Loss of sleep
Feelings of isolation
Significant increase or decrease in appetite
Feeling overwhelmed with life
A belief that things will not get better or improve
Low self-worth
Frequent Crying Spells
Wishing Life were over or Suicidal thoughts
Major Depression is treatable. The most efficacious treatment of moderate to severe depression may be a combination of psychotherapy and psycho-pharmacological interventions. Also, developing a healthy social support system made up of friends, family, and/or social communities such as faith institutions and community centers may also contribute to getting well and healing from depression.
One of the biggest hurdles to overcome when beginning to treat depression is believing that there can be help. The first step that may require a little push from the inside, is to reach out for help. Many suffer silently for months or years without speaking to someone professionally. This can be due to feeling shame, believing that they should just be able to “snap out of it”, or cultural/religious messages that have a negative or distorted view on persons who are clinically depressed. You should be encouraged to rise above any negative stigmatization of depression so that you can experience relief and healing as soon as possible.
resources:
Dan Guerra, Psy.D.
