Feeling Depressed?
We'd love to come alongside you in the struggles you may be facing in this area, so feel free to contact us via email or phone 920.730.8383.
What you can do today:
- You can contact your doctor & talk to him/her about what you are experiencing. Sometimes medication is needed to treat depression.
- Be sure to take medication already prescribed by your doctor to treat the depression according to his/her directions.
- Take care of yourself: Eat right, exercise, avoid alcohol & recreational drugs, get the right amount of sleep.
- Talk with a counselor. It can help to have a person to not only confide in, but receive some direction and focus in the midst of the battle.
- Call a friend. Pursue healthy relationships and activities with others. Bible studies, volunteerism, classes can benefit you, but will also help others through your involvement.
- De-stress. Stress takes its toll on everyone, but for someone who is depressed, it can be exceptionally hard. De-stress using the above suggestions and others like prayer, meditation, etc.
- Join a support group. Many hospitals & organizations offer support groups and/or classes to help you deal with and understand your battle with depression.
- Nurture your spiritual life by attending church activities, bible reading & classes, and prayer/meditation. Have others pray for you and with you.
- If you become suicidal, immediately seek medical help…go the hospital emergency room.
Depression: Signs and symptoms
Two hallmarks of depression — symptoms key to establishing a diagnosis — are:
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal daily activities & hobbies
- Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
- In addition, for a doctor or other health professional to diagnose depression, most of the following signs and symptoms also
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, excessive guilt
- Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
- Restlessness, irritability, agitation
- Persistent physical symptoms must be present for at least two weeks
Depression can also cause a wide variety of physical complaints, such as gastrointestinal problems (indigestion, constipation or diarrhea), headache and backache. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety.
Children, teens and older adults may react differently to depression. In these groups, symptoms may take different forms or may be masked by other conditions. Kids may pretend to be sick, worry that a parent is going to die, perform poorly in school, refuse to go to school, or exhibit behavioral problems. Older people may be more willing to discuss the physical manifestations of depression, instead of their emotional difficulties.
Any of the above symptoms that persist longer than two weeks will help differentiate whether you are experiencing “clinical” depression vs. the normal ups and downs of life and/or moving through grief. Unresolved and/or accumulated grief can lead to clinical depression.
More on Depression
Some thoughts on suicide