Depression

Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function.

Symptoms:

• Feeling sad all the time

• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed

• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Loss of energy or increased fatigue

• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions must be severe enough to be observable by others)

• Feeling worthless or guilty

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions

• Thoughts of death or suicide

Usually all of these symptoms come together. Experiencing 1 of the above does not classify as "Depression"

How Is Depression Different From Sadness or Grief?

• In grief, painful feelings come in waves, often intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks.

• In grief, self-esteem is usually maintained. In major depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are common.

• In grief, thoughts of death may surface when thinking of or fantasizing about “joining” the deceased loved one. In major depression, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression.

Distinguishing between grief and depression is important and can assist people in getting the help, support or treatment they need.

How Is Depression Treated?

1. Medication (antidepressants of different strengths) are usually prescribed. (Medicines to be prescribed by a doctor)

2. Psychotherapy or "talk therapy" is proven to work for mild cases

3. Psych Ward is where a person goes when they are either a danger to themselves (most likely) a danger to others (less likely) this is where they use different types of therapy to help you cope!

"Never be afraid to ask for help"