|
|
|
Why do I refer to depression as the cracked mirror of life? It’s
because most people who are depressed see only the bad things in their
life. They tell me when they look in the mirror; they see themselves as
worthless, ugly, or hopeless. It’s hard for a person to see the good
things in life while looking through black lens glasses. Just to get an
idea of what a depressed person has to deal with on a near daily basis,
let’s look at the signs and symptoms of depression. Here are things
about depression that you or those around you might notice:
- Feeling or complaining of feeling tired or not having energy a
lot
- Feeling blue, down in the dumps, sad or like crying for no
reason
- Sleeping too much, having problems sleeping, or early awakening
- Feeling irritable or restless with or without mood swings
- No longer enjoying things that normally are fun or exciting
- Gaining or losing weight because your appetite has changed
- Just can’t seem to concentrate or focus and possible memory
problems
- Hard time making even simple decisions about things in life
- Feeling like you’re in slow motion or can’t get things done
- Feeling worthless or having thoughts of guilt, death or suicide
So now that you know a little about depression, what can you do to
help yourself or someone you know who is depressed? The good news is
“depression is treatable and can be cured”! The first step in treatment
is of course admitting that you are depressed, just like an alcoholic
must admit alcohol addiction before he can be adequately treated. The
second step is to ask for help. I have yet to meet a patient who was
able to treat his or her own depression successfully. The cure for
depression always seems to include counseling, support from a close
friend or family member, and the help of a doctor. The third step
usually involves taking medications such as antidepressants. Since
depression occurs as the result of a deficiency in brain chemicals
called neurotransmitters, these chemicals must be replaced or increased
in concentration in order to help depression go away. These chemicals
are responsible for making you energetic, happy, able to think clearly,
and giving you the relaxation required for social interaction with
others.
The final step in getting rid of depression involves learning to
change ourselves so we are more resistant to the ups and downs in life.
Life skills needed to protect us from “the blues” include learning to
deal with small frustrations, becoming better organized, training
ourselves to be more positive about what we do, and developing a rest
and recreation schedule that allows us time for mental rest and
exercise. For a more detailed discussion of this important aspect of
life that affects about 55% of the population, see
“Depression The Roller Coaster Of Life” on our website at
http://www.drhuggiebear.com.
Let’s work together to help you and your loved ones experience a great
life, without the pains of depression.
Dr. Frank |
