Help and Hope for Depression
75
Hope for Depression
Depression is one of the most common mental health issues in our society today. It not only affects adults, but children and teens as well. As a person in the mental health field, I have seen how devastating depression can be. As a person who has struggled with depression firsthand, I see hope and possible solutions for this particular diagnosis. I hope you find my article on depression, helpful.
Am I depressed?
Here is a list of symptoms that can help you assess whether or not you are suffering from depression.
- Change in eating habits-Are you finding that your eating more than usual or that you have no appetite? (weight gain or weight loss).
- Change in sleeping habits-Are you finding that you are sleeping too much or having difficulty getting enough sleep?
- Change in social habits-Are you finding that you are no longer interested in getting together with friends or family and just want to hide out and isolate? Or are you finding that you are going out more than usual and exhibiting high risk behavior? (ex: heavy drinking, promiscuity).
- Feeling alone and self-deprecating
- Feelings of sadness or apathy
- Losing your temper easily/irritablility
- Fatigue
- Feelings of anxiety and being overwhelmed
- Feelings of hopelessness
- Feelings of dread
- Trouble concentrating or tracking
- Trouble functioning day to day (ex: gettting out of bed and doing basic tasks, like showering)
- Thoughts of hurting yourself or suicidal ideation
Depression or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common and serious medical condition which makes one feel overwhelmed. The condition can wreak havoc on a person's life and interfere with normal functioning. Depression can occur once or several times over a person's life time. It is estimated that depression affects about 14 million Americans or 1 in 6 adults over a life span.
Here are some suggestions to help reduce symptoms of depression:
- Talk to your health- care professional or therapist if you believe you are depressed. They can assess you for depression and help you decide the best way to treat it.
- Excercise, move your body-Studies have shown that just moving or excercising can help reduce the effects of depression.
- Talk to loved ones that you trust-talking about your feelings of depression can make you feel better. Many times you will find you are not alone in your depression. Knowing you are not the only one that has felt this way, can have a uplifting effect.
- Self-Care-Though you may not be feeling up to pampering yourself, it is important to do just that. Loving yourself enough to take a bubble bath or any activity that makes you feel good. It is also important that you try to have a well-balanced diet and at least eight hours sleep. It can be challenging when one is depressed, but it is possible. As I stated earlier, limit your alcohol use or better yet, take it out of the equation all together.
Remember, Depression is a very treatable condition. If you are finding that your lows are lasting longer than usual, please see a doctor or therapist.
© 2010 Linda Rogers
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (8)
- Funny
- Awesome (2)
- Beautiful
- Interesting (1)
Good Guy-thanks for reading my hub and I loved your added suggestions. Caring for a granddaughter must be both wonderful and challenging. I am glad that you have the skills needed to know what you need to do when feeling depressed. Loved the idea of noting the feelings of depression and how that has helped. Writing this hub helped reduce my depression knowing it can help others.
Lots of good advice here. I will stumble this one for sure.
thx daisyjae, glad it can help.
Very good points made. Thank you for this important information. God Bless You.
You are so very welcome stars439-God Bless you too!
MT - Thanks so much for visiting my hub and came over to see your hubs. This is so well done - depression is a terribly debilitating set of symptoms once it gets your claws into you. I suffered from this as a teen due to my situation and I believe it could have cost me my life had I not gotten out of the situation. It took many years for me to finally free myself from the last bits of it but through counseling and meeting the love of my life, I was able to rise above it. The main thing is that it is possible to cure with the right tools - and you have outlined many! Great job.
AK-Thanks so much for reading this hub on depression. I am so glad to hear you got through your dark days of depression. It is a blessing to be free of depression as many live with it's debilitating effects throughout their lives. God Bless and thanks for stopping by.
Thank you for this good and common sense ways to acknowledge, and "shift" sadness. Thanks for this Hope Filled message on Depression. (#743 "Free Bird" Live by Lynard Skynrd as loud as legally possible - Rock the Depression Down!) :0)
I love that song LillyGrillzit. I must try this self-care technique of cranking a favorite rock tune like "free Bird." I like your way of thinking. I know i will always struggle with depression now and again but I do feel better prepared now when it comes over me. Thanks for stopping by Lilly, it is so nice to know people can get something out of a hub.
Unfortunately, bipolar depression is often misdiagnosed as depression. It is necessary for a professional to make the diagnosis, as the meds are totally different.
good hub
Oh yes, anyone should see a doctor to make sure what it is. I can see how a wrong diagnosis could be quite dangerous for an individual. Thanks for the comment and thanks so much for the visit.
Great hub. Thanks for offering such an informative and compassionate write-up. So many tragic misconceptions abound, but people need to know that depression is a real, yet treatable illness. Based on personal experience, I can say this is a really helpful reminder.
Hello there BennyTheWriter-Thanks for stopping by my hub. I like to write articles that I know about so It can help others. It means a lot that you felt this was helpful and informative as someone who has dealth with it firsthand. God Bless.
How about relaxation for addition, Great hub. Lot of experiences for this topic, I'm really enjoy it, thanks a lot.
AAhh, Yes, relaxation and meditation are one of the best ways to help with depression. Thanks for the reminder. I so appreciate a new hubber friend stopping by and reading my hub. Peace:)
Helpful list for those wondering if their symptoms are an indication of depression. Many thanks for writing. Check out the few articles I've written on the epidemic of depression in Teens and Veterans. There is information about How Homeopathy Helps, too. Blessings.
Hi Debby-Great to see a new friend on my hub. I'm glad you liked my simple depression list. I'm in the mental health field and want to share some of my knowledge to help others. I can't wait to read about your hubs on teens and vets with depression. These are two populations that are much affected by depression.
Oh thank God I read your HUB today. To tell you the truth, you have answer me just when I need it the most. So happy to read your lovely hubs, keep write more I am looking forward to visit.
USEFUL!
Oh my dear Nayothara-I am so glad this was helpful for you. Maybe it was meant to be that you read it on Thanksgiving Day. I will pray that all is well with you. Peace friend:)
I believe your hub will help many people.
thank you for your transparency & for using your experience to help others. voted up & useful.
:)
Warmest regards~
Thanks you so much breathe2travel. I feel that hub pages can help many with differen't issues. By using our personal experiences I feel people get more out of it and know they are not alone. I appreciate your kind feedback:)
This struck home to me as I battled depression and anxiety for about 2.5 years. I survived (as opposed to living)through this terrible sickness. During this time, I lost my family, my marriage, my house and went through three relationships during this period of time. That time period of my life remains a fog. Fortunately, I recovered, and even though I am still unemployed, I have regained my self-worth, I have married an absolutely wonderful woman who has followed a similar path. Thank you, again, for this post....where were you back then LOL.
Hey VividImage-Thanks for opening up about your personal struggle with depression and anxiety. I have written a hub on both of these due to my experiences.
I am so glad to hear that you worked through it and are doing so well. I have my ups and downs and probably always will but my ups are far more frequent now. Thanks for reading:)
I am the mother of twins, a boy and a girl, and my son suffers from depression and anxiety. It is very difficult for me to see him suffer, but as long as he takes his medication, he is able to function and do his job. He attempted suicide last year, and I live in fear of that every day as I have already lost one son to leukemia at the age of 18. Needless to say, I'm a bit depressed myself, but who wouldn't be? Thank you for this hub, it was very informative.
Oh my goodness Lilley-I am so sorry to hear of your loss and that your son struggles with depression. I am glad to hear he's on medication as I know that was really important for me. I went back and forth for years, denying I needed it but once I got on it, I felt so much better. I've had a history of depression and anxiety too. Of course your feeling depression with all that you have on your plate. I hope you are taking steps to take care/pamper yourself when you can. Life is tough.
- Alternative Therapies for Depression
Medical Treatments The main medical treatments for depression include drug treatments and electroconvulsive therapy. A third treatment, transcranial magnetic stimulation, is emerging as an alternative to... - Remedies for Depression
Depression is a type of mental illness that hampers the normal activity of a person. A person with depressive disorder may not have any interest in enjoyable activities. There are several factors that may... - The risks of depression and alcohol abuse. How to ge...
Depression and alcoholism are incredibly interlinked, and if you experience clinical depression you are far more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol; and if you abuse drugs and alcohol, you are far more likely... - The risks of depression and alcohol abuse. How to ge...
Depression and alcoholism are incredibly interlinked, and if you experience clinical depression you are far more likely to abuse drugs or alcohol; and if you abuse drugs and alcohol, you are far more likely... - Motivational Tips For Depression
When I start to feel depressed or morose, there a few things I try to do to get myself motivated and away from misery for a while. Get up and Move. Get out of bed no matter how demanding it...
|
Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting Mom and Tho..
Current Bid: $4.63
|
|
New Light on Depression: Help, Hope, and Answers for th
Current Bid: $15.52
|
|
Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting.. - Paperback
Current Bid: $2.93
|
 | Amazon Price: $3.50 |
 | Amazon Price: $7.41 List Price: $21.95 |
 | Amazon Price: $9.99 |
Good Guy Level 3 Commenter 22 months ago
Hi Minnetonka Twin,
Good to learn from a qualified person like you.
I have come full circle in life. I am 60 years old. I know what depression is all about. Right now I have to take full care of my 5 year old granddaughter.
I am fully conscious of the debilitating effect of depression. In my circumstances I cannot afford to be a victim of depression, wallowing in self-pity. You have provided helpful suggestions. I am actually practising your suggestions 2,3, and 4. Talking to loved ones and friends do a lot of help. May I add, relating one's "problems" in the internet surely helps. Like this one right now! (LOL) Hahahaha!!!!! Of course, one has to be careful how much one needs to divulge in the particular website.
Another method I use is to note the particular depressing feeling; to be aware, to be mindful of that particular thought/feeling; without judging/thinking. Just note, and after some time, that particular thought/feeling would get the message that it is not welcome and will eventual go away.
Thanks for letting me share my thoughts, and thus reducing my depression! (LOL)
Hahaha!!!!