Have you ever experienced depression? Perhaps you have a loved one who struggles with it? Sometimes, depression is just a gnawing ache; a feeling that things just aren’t right and it makes you “feel blue.” Other times, Depression gets you in a stranglehold and tears you apart from the inside out.
She’s like that, the witch.
She affects 10% of Americans, and yet still some people believe the myths about Depression. If you have been face to face with Depression, you know the truth. Depression is a “real” illness, and there is no shame in experiencing it.
October 5-11th is National Mental Illness Awareness Week. My friend, Jessica the Rock Chick has an ambitious goal: she wants us all to join hands to fight Depression and spread this message:
Feel free to copy that image and post it on your sidebar. Link to Jessica’s post as we join the Rock Chick and help spread awareness of Depression. Let’s all grab hands and see how far we can take this.
What are the symptoms of Depression? Some are not so obvious, others are major!
Common Depression symptoms include:
• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
• Irritability, restlessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
• Insomnia, early–morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating, or appetite loss
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, get help. Don’t delay hoping it will go away. If the thought of suicide surfaces, get help immediately! Call 911 or go to the emergency room!
Recently, Karen Walrond of Chookooloonks put together a lovely visual project for the Houston Wellness Center. It offered 5 Ways to Begin to Recover From Hurricane Ike. The suggestions offered are often given for dealing with Depression. If your symptoms are mild, you might try these while you wait for your doctor’s appointment.
That may seem simplistic, but for situational Depression, those suggestions will help.
Depression is serious business. Let’s get the word out to those who suffer from Depression:
Grab my hand and join us won’t you?
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
It’s perfect. Muchas gracias, mi amiga!
Jessica The Rock Chicks last blog post..Walk This Way
Thanks for starting the process, and for grabbing my hand
It is a serious epidemic! And you know, my Dad, unfortunately, is one of those from the old school who doesn’t ‘believe’ it’s an illness! Despite my Mom and Sister having it…sad….:sad:
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Barb, I think if people haven’t experienced it, they often believe that it’s nothing. “Snap out of it” is what I always heard. When you are depressed, there is no snapping out of it!
To be honest, I think I have been in a “depressed mode” the majority of my life but didn’t realize what it was until January of 1980 when things fell apart -big time -and I ended up hospitalized in a lock-up zone for a week. Since then, I am much more in tune with those feelings and currently have a prescription for Celexa along with one for Xanax, for those times when I get really, really anxious. Both my daughters have many of the same issues as does my son and in retrospect, I can see now that my Mom also had this insidious illness as well as one of my Dad’s sisters too. Yes, it is also a genetic or heriditary type thing -however you care to term it there.
As a matter of fact, the past week has been one that had me very on edge, just not feeling “right” but nothing I could seem to do to alleviate it until after I did my last post on my blog and I realized this week marked the 29th year since my Mom died. It’s strange, but once I acknowledged that in my post, the anxiety level seemed to begin to abate.
It’s also something so many people still don’t recognize -in themselves, in others around them, and as such, makes getting help for many very difficult then.
I’m just thankful I recognize many of the symptoms now in myself, in my kids and for you and others who bring more attention to this illness and talk about it openly. Good mental health is something that is just as important to all of us as is treating any type of illness we consider to be “physical” because depression can make us physically ill if left untreated. Great post, Shelly!
Thanks, Jeni. I think that recognizing the symptoms is the first step to being able to get better. I’m glad you recognize it, and can pinpoint what’s triggering it. Sometimes the reasons seem vague…sometimes there is no “reason” at all. I am glad that Jessica started this, because it’s important to get the word out.
I really thought my husband was kind of blowing things out of proportion till I experienced it myself. It really made it impossible for me to function as a human being.
I’ll do a post and join you tonight or tomorrow.
marilyns last blog post..Would you hire me?
I think that most people don’t understand it until they experience it! I’m sorry you battle it, but I appreciate you joining!