This is a student-written article from my college's newspaper, from the November 16th, 2005 edition. Take it with a grain of salt, as it is not a peer-reviewed or a professional article. It's geared more towards college students, seeing as how it's in a college school paper, but I guess it can apply to anyone with depression.
"The Gloomy Season: Tips on Dealing with Depression"
It's November. You're mired in the middle of a long, hard, stressful semester. The four classes you're tackling leave just enough time for you to supplement your student loan by working 16 hours a week at Office Depot, Michael's, Best Buy or (shudder) The Other Press. Bills are due, rent's due, and homework's due. Now, the sky is a permanent overcast-grey, and gloom is the forecast for at least the next 4 months.
For those of us dealing with depression (and, really, who isn't to some degree), this is the time of year when we become susceptible to the big "D". Not only has the summer ended, but also the colours of fall have been swept away by wind and rain. We begin to have difficulties facing each day - small, easy tasks, such as preparing food and picking up after ourselves morph into monumental challenges. God forbid any large, stressful matters rear their ugly heads unexpectedly. Emotional and mental breakdowns sometimes occur.
Depression is something that will touch most of us at some point in our lives. Those of us with a little less luck are revisited by serious bouts more than a few times a year. To be clear, I'm not talking about being down in the dumps, or having a rough day. Full-blown depression can often be debilitating and bring a normal (or abnormal, I suppose) life to a screeching, sudden halt.
It is often said that the worst thing someone dealing with depression can do about it is nothing. The fact of the matter is, there are far more damaging ways to deal with depression than nothing. But nobody needs to be lectured on the detriments of temporary escape: we all know the pitfalls, and most of us choose to partake from time to time anyways. This is about doing something, what can be done, and what should be done. There are options available and people willing to help.
Do You Have Depression?
If you haven't previously been diagnosed with depression, but suspect you currently or have suffered in the past, I'm going to be extremely clear on this: Go speak with your family doctor. It is of the utmost importance that you speak with a qualified professional who is intimate with your history of physical and mental health. With that in mind, we can, responsibly, print a list of symptoms that are often associated with depression. If you find yourself suffering from any combination of the following symptoms, consider seeing your doctor:
- Loss of interest
- Feeling sad
- Lack of sex drive
- Feeling lethargic
- Feeling restless
- Change in weight or appetite
- Thoughts of death, suicide, or self-mutilation
- Problems concentrating
- Problems making decisions
- Sleeping too little, or too much
- Feeling pessimistic, lost, or hopeless
- Anxiety or panic attacks
Treating Depression
Your chances of successfully treating a bout of depression with medication or therapy improve the sooner you act. Again, by working with a doctor whom you trust, there are multiple ways of treating depression. Medication is, by far, the most popular route, but psychotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and light therapy are also available. And don't forget about natural and holistic approaches (such as physical activity, sports, sleeping patterns, and a proper diet) to help with the problem as well.
Medication
Many people are currently on anti-depressant medication. It is popular, effective, and allows your life to continue uninterrupted. When starting out on a medication, be prepared to give it 4 - 6 weeks before showing any signs of improvement or otherwise. Anti-depressants are not like a drug - you don't pop one and suddenly it feels better. It is the gradual, slow build-up of chemicals that help negate the depression. The improvement, as well, is slow and gradual, to a degree that some people don't even realize they're not depressed anymore.
There are many different types of medication and if you are put on some, keep in mind that your doctor or therapist has put some thought into which type to try you on first. Pay attention to how you're feeling while the medication builds up, and keep an eye out for any side effects. Sometimes, doctors will warn their patients about any possible side effects, but depending on the psyche of the patient, they will choose not to. Knowledge of side-effects can have a psychosamatic effect on the patient - if they are convinved they will suffer from side effects, some patients can make themselves believe, or actually find a way, to suffer from them.
Even if you are suffering from side-effects, remember it is not a good idea to suddenly stop taking your medication. You must be weaned off the drug just as you are weaned on. Suddenly stopping can have a detrimental effect on your health. Work with your physician on this one, and follow the directions to the letter.
Psychotherapy
With psychotherapy, you work with a qualified therapist to find the cause of your depression, face it, and deal with it. Psychotherapy can often be successful when used with an anti-depressant medication. There are 3 main types of psychotherapy:
- Behavioral: Focuses on current behaviors.
- Cognitive: Focuses on thoughts and thinking patterns.
- Interpersonal: Focuses on relationships with other people in your life.
Psychotherapy can either be one-on-one, with a group of people suffering from similar conditions, or with members of your support group (friends or family) present. Though psychotherapy is effective, remember that you must work at it for it to be successful.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
There is a stigma attached to ECT - people still think it's shock treatment. Well, great strides have been made in this area, and ECT is still practiced on severely depressed patients. Anesthesia and muscle relaxants are used to prevent pain and harm during the treatment. ECT, obviously, should only be undertaken if the patient, their doctor, and any other professionals working on the patient agree on it. Immediate improvement is often felt by patients, but comes hand-in-hand with short-term memory loss.
Remember, if you suspect you have depression, consult your doctor (or take advantage of our free counseling services at ________), tell them how you're feeling, answer their questions honestly and openly, and ask lots of questions yourself. By working together with qualified, trusted professionals, you can actually be back to living your normal life and taking care of yourself in no time.
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