Depression
Each person experiences and manages stress in their on way, our coping skills - or lack of them - come from learning from those around us as we're growing up. It's because of this depression comes in so many different forms and depression symptoms are so varied.
Diagnosis
The first step has to be diagnosis - if you feel you are experiences any of the depression symptoms, then see your GP. They may decide to send you to a psychiastrist, especially if there are manic episodes where you feel exceedingly high then feel absolutely dreadful - This could be Bi-polar and medication is the best solution for this problem, as it is different from clinical depression. The GP may prescribe you anti-depressants, or suggest councelling or cognitive behavioural therapy on the NHS.
For others it could be mild depression that takes hold because of the weather, and Christmas anxiety / depression is becoming more popular. It also doesn't matter whether you're a teenager or a pensioner, depression can hit at any time, and the age when we it first hits is getting younger.
There are more options though that have helped thousands over the years but at the end of the day you've got to decide you want help, you have got to decide which is going to be best for you and you've got to want to change.
Depression - the symptoms
There are degrees of depression from the mild to the severe or chronic. It can be that you just feel aimless, helpless, hopeless, anxious, and indecisive, lack concentration or have poor self-esteem. Your sleep may be disturbed you may feel tired all the time and you have a sense of humour failure. These feeling can last from a few minutes to weeks at a time.
Someone with major depression will be diagnosed professionally from the diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders or DSM. Depression is categorised as a mood disorder and it includes 5 or more of the following symptoms that have been present over a two week period, and have at least a depressed mood or loss of pleasure amongst them.
The person may feel sad or empty, tearful, guilty, reproachful, worthless, helpless, suicidal. They may lose or gain weight, feel tired and find they wake up early and can't get back to sleep. They may be so agitated the doctor might check for parkinsons as well. These shakes are associated with the lack of dopamine in the brain.
If someone is suicidal seeking help both medically and emotionally is a must. See your GP and talk it through with the Samaritans.
If you have been to your GP and they have diagnosed you with depression, but you do not want to take drugs for depression, then please give me a call to talk through your options.
Note: not finding things funny may be down to the lack of good humour around or your changing sense of humour with age. Once I thought I was becoming depressed, then I discovered it was other people telling me which TV shows were really funny and I did not find them so: it was their sense of humour not mine!!!
If now's the time, give me a call and book your FREE consultation.
Also see: Pathology of Depression
