Most people go through periods of experiencing sadness, but did you know that one million Canadians are depressed? And depression is no small matter — it can be a seriously debilitating condition. Additionally, depression is estimated to be the “second leading cause of disability in the world by 2020.” Obviously, depression is nothing to joke about.
How do you know when you are majorly depressed?
Symptoms of major depression differ from merely feeling down. How? When you are going through a time of sadness, you will likely feel disappointed, empty, etc, for a relatively short period of time. It’s different when you are clinically depressed. Here are a few symptoms of major depression:
– Change in sex drive (decrease)
– “Feeling worthless, helpless, or hopeless”
– Having suicidal thoughts
– “Feeling unreasonably guilty”
– Change in appetite
– Fatigue
– “Overwhelming feelings of sadness or grief”
If these or similar symptoms persist for several weeks, there is a good chance that clinical depression is the culprit. To see additional symptoms of severe depression, visit http://www.cmha.ab.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86-87&lang=1.
Do you recognize these symptoms in yourself or someone you know? Is there a chance you might be clinically depressed?
If you are struggling with depression, take heart — “depression is the most treatable mental illness.”
That is great news for anyone dealing with depression! Some of this disorder’s treatments include drug therapy, counseling, support groups, etc. There are also homeopathic helps available. For example, did you know that exercise is wonderful for easing the symptoms of depression?
Dr. Madhukar H. Trivedi, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, recently performed a study on the effects of exercise upon the symptoms of depression. Nearly 30 percent of the subjects who both took antidepressant medications and exercised regularly over a period of time “achieved remission.” Visit http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/prescribing-exercise-to-treat-depression/ to read more — this article will be very encouraging to you.
If you are depressed, reach out for help.
One way to do this is by connecting with the Canadian Mental Health Association (http://www.cmha.ab.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=8&lang=1). This organization can help guide you to a path of recovery from depression.
If you are depressed, we hope this post has encouraged you. Remember, the odds that you can achieve a state of emotional normalcy are in your favor.
Sources:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001941/
http://www.cmha.ab.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=3-86-87&lang=1
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/mental-health/depression-medications.html
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/31/prescribing-exercise-to-treat-depression/
http://www.cmha.ab.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=8&lang=1
Image made available by Moyan_Brenn on Flickr through Creative Commons License.
*Please note: All research for this article is compiled from direct and third party sources. Mention of programs, organizations and companies does not imply support of The National Benefit Authority. Pictures are for creative purposes only; they are not intended to sell or promote products for the NBA and belong to the accredited individual, organization or company.
Let’s Talk About It
Have you ever dealt with depression? If so, was it difficult for you to reach out for help?
How do you deal with the stress of a friend or family member having major depression?
I have dealt with depression in many ways and they seem to work in most cases. In the first case where I was unable to do the work I had done for twenty five years. I was depressed as sickness in my stomach and feeling of worthlessness so I went to the doctors and finally they gave me nerve meds though very mild Oxazepham 15 milligrams and I dealt with it that way then I took course after course through Government to upgrade myself so I could perform some sort of work as a disabled person. I became an electronic Technician and worked for a while out of my home shop as that. It was not enough to make a good living at so I tried to get a course to upgrade even further as a technologist or engineer. An Electronic Technologist or Electronic Engineer would have more capabilities to produce electronic gadgets rather than work on TV’s That now were a dime a dozen so to speak. They refused to help in this endeavor so they may have felt it was too late for me at around 40. I tried a few other courses Technical Writing, only did half of that course as the people wouldn’t give me the equipment needed to complete it. Web Design about half of that to because government would not help me do the advanced course.
Now I write and photograph. Still little government help so i have to help myself. When my legs are in serious pain I just keep going through it to live another day. Time is no longer in my favor because I now find myself almost 63 Years of age and still no one helping me. I take Tylenol 3 with codeine, Nova-Nortriptyline 25 mg. Oxazepham 15 mg. and tecta for a hernia. The pain increases as the day wears on me and my nerves but still I keep walking to keep my legs moving aven though I know my legs will go through much pain when I’m through. It does keep them more flexible.
It was very hard to talk about and still is but its part of having fibromyalgia so i cant hide from it. Its been a big part of my life for 10 yrs now that im willing to admit to but its been almost 20 yrs since a suicide attempt and I did not receive any help at all after that until 10 yrs later when I went from a workoholic truck driver to someone who could not even leave the house.
Now im stuck in a wheelchair and am told i will never work another day in my life at only 48 . I am curently having to live in a long term care facility where the average age of the others that live here is about 85, and let me tell ya that has made the depression even deeper and I go thru daily panic attacks to go with the cronic pain & fatigue of the fibro & ostioarthritis. And still the dr’s just dont understand and have takin me off of 1 antidepressant that I had been taking for the last 6 yrs. And they didnt even do a gradual decreese in it the way it is properly done the just stopped it cold turkey which has made it much harder to deal with this “wonderfull “lol life i lead. .
If not for the love and support of a very special lady i would have givin up along time ago., but instead I strugle thru everydaywith all the chalenges of a body that wont work and a mind that works overtime and all they want to do here is take away the meds i have found that work for me and put me back to square 1 trying drugs again that had not worked for me in the past. But they wont listen to me they seem to just want to change things for the sake of change. .
As I say if not for the love & support of that one special lady i would be cashin in my chips today. . .
My daughter and husband moved in with us last fall due to disabilities. She has severe Fibremyalgia, he is classic bi-polar, meeting all 7 criteria for manic depressive disorder. I also am disabled. Is there any safe way to encourage my son in law to get moving about to help with his depression? He cycles rapidly, at least once every day. He is a former air traffic controller , extremely bright, very computer savvy, but also very inactive physically. He will go to the mall and push my wheelchair. Is this acceptable exercise? I’m concerned his poverty and the depression of being around so much blatant consumerism in the mall is worse for his mental state than the benefits of the walking.
He cannot get in to see a psychologist until mid July. Any advice would be greatly appreciated,
Sincerely,
Sharon
i have fought depression since 1998 and i’am LOSING