DEPRESSION OVERVIEW
Clinical depression is a state of intense sadness, melancholy or despair that has advanced to the point of being disruptive to an individual’s daily life. Frequently depression causes physical pain in addition to mental anguish. Some of these
physical symptoms include, but are not limited to: headaches, back pain, digestive problems, dizziness, change in appetite or weight, change in sleeping habits and fatigue.
The mental aspects of depression include feeling tired, sad, irritable, apathetic, unmotivated and/or lazy. It can also result in feelings of hopelessness, despair, guilt, forgetfulness, and anxiety. People with depression are also known to experience difficulty making decisions, lack of concentration, the inability to enjoy things, loneliness even when surrounded by others and tearfulness.
People with depression are frequently known to isolate themselves, stay indoors, sleep in excess. They can often become antisocial and dread things they used to enjoy. Many teens with undiagnosed depression start to let their grades drop, spend less time with their families and could care less about their social standing. Adults often lose interest in their jobs and become distant towards their families. They frequently lose their jobs and lack the motivation to get another. Often people with depression can become suicidal if they do not get help.
Some of the treatment options for depression include: counseling, medications such as Zoloft, Prozac, Wellbutrin, Celexa, Remeron. Individuals on antidepressant medications need to be monitored carefully by their physician and/ or councilor to insure they are receiving the correct medication and dosage because symptoms can worsen and also cause suicidal ideation which was not present before.
Depression is a very serious illness. It can sap all energy and will to enjoy life right out of you. It can cause thoughts of self-loathing and thoughts that you or others would be better off if you were dead. It changes you, making you think and act differently than you usually would. It makes you feel worthless, so you can only see the bad in things or you just don’t see the point anymore.
Depression is not something that will just go away. It is the leading cause of disability in North America as well as other countries. It affects approximately 7%-18% of the population on at least one occasion before they reach the age of forty. The majority of those who suffer from depression are women. About twice as many females as males report and receive treatment for their depression.
Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain as well as mental and physical disease. It is very serious, but with the right support and treatment it can be dealt with and frequently be overcome. Family members and other loved ones can help those who are depressed by encouraging them to see a professional, such as their primary physician or a councilor. Family can try to convince the individual to follow their doctor’s suggestions , but most importantly you must remember to be supportive and loving.
Interveiw with others sufferers of depression
I chose to interview Holly Lehwald and Brian Turner about their experiences with depression. I picked them because they can tell you what it’s like suffering from depression personally and with real, first-hand knowledge.
Question: What symptoms of depression have you suffered from?
Holly: I suffered from lack of energy, wanting to sleep all the time, I was very grumpy, I didn’t really feel anything, I had headaches and stomachaches as well. That’s about all I can think of at the moment.
Brian: I experienced disinterest, sleeplessness, social isolation, inability to accomplish goals as well as suicide thoughts.
Q: What effect did it have on your life?
H: I stopped cooking for my family and cleaning house. I didn’t like my job or other people. I was a different person.
B: As my depression started when I was pretty young, I had poor grades, no social life or dating. I had no sports activities or friendships. I also had no plans for the future.
Q: How long did you/ have you been suffering from depression?
H: I had it for about six months before it was recognized and treated but I have had it for a total of ten years.
B: Well, it started in eighth grade, when I was about 15, in around 1976, I got it treated in 1992 and I found it was gone in about 1995. That would be about nineteen years?
Q: What treatment did you get for your depression?
H: I went to counseling for a couple of months, then I stopped because I found I didn’t like it. I also started on medication. I took Prozac for about five years before it stopped working for me and I switched to Zoloft. Unfortunately, the switch left me with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).
B: I took Prozac to help me with my depression. I did not, however, do any counseling, at least, not for more than two visits.
Q: How has that treatment helped you?
H: Medication helped me to feel love, enjoy things again, including my children and gardening. It gave me a better attitude. The medication I’m currently on also helps me to control my OCD.
B: My treatment helped with the suicide thoughts I was thinking. It took away the worst of my depression and made it so I could function easier. My children also helped. They helped me to stop, avoid the depression, I had something that I had to do, children who needed me.
Q: What do you suggest others suffering from depression do?
H: I think they should try counseling, find the right counselor, and talk to their parents, relatives, and loved ones. If needed they should also get medication.
B: I think they should go to a doctor, let the doctor do what he/she thinks is best, take the doctor’s advice. They should also keep some daily activity, force yourself to go on.
Q: What types of treatments did you decide against? Why?
H: Counseling didn’t work for me personally. I didn’t like my counselor.
B: Counseling, it was expensive and the drug therapy seemed to be enough. I also didn’t like the idea of counseling. Poverty made me go off Prozac which turned out to be alright. I think that you should take brief holidays from your medication with your doctor’s knowledge and approval to see if it has worked and the depression has stopped.
Q: Any last words of wisdom?
H: If you think you’re depressed it’s very important to get help, talk to people, and get pulled out of it.
B: Make sure your loved ones know what’s going on, don’t keep it a secret, silence will not help, they need to know. Remember life will change, you don’t know what it will hand you, and it may be good. Don’t confuse negativity with realism.
Interveiw with Dr. Lila McQueen
I chose to interview Dr. McQueen about her job as a councilor. I chose her because she has a lot of experience with people suffering from depression.
Question: What are the most common symptoms people with depression suffer from?
Answer: The most common symptoms include feeling “blue”, crying, and fatigue, insomnia, feeling hopeless or helpless, irritability and increase or decrease in appetite. They also withdraw from social activities, suffer from apathy, decreased ability to concentrate and impaired memory.
Q: How do you think it effects them and their lives?
A: It decreases the quality of life, impairs functioning in school, at your job or in close relationships. Thought to be a risk/ factor for heart disease, heart attacks and diabetes. It is also thought to be a risk factor for other physical conditions and can be life threatening due to the frequency with which suicidal ideation accompanies depression.
Q: How long does depression usually last?
A: it is usually self-limiting to three to six months.
Q: What Treatment do you suggest to those suffering from depression?
A: I suggest Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. I also suggest anti-depressant medication if needed.
Q: Are you against any types of treatment, anything you don’t believe will help? Why?
A: I’m against anti-depressants without check-ups and cognitive therapy is ill-advised due to suicide thoughts and/or no response to that specific medication. Talking to friends or family only is inadvisable because of the general happenings of untreated depression. Counseling by someone not licensed can lead to treatment failure, and can heighten suicide risk.
Q: Any last words of wisdom?
A: Take depression seriously, it is potentially fatal and at the very least creates enormous emotional pain and limits the ability to think well.
Depression test: Are you depressed?
Over the last two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems?
1) Little or no pleasure in doing things you usually enjoy or no motivation to do those things
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
3) Feeling tired or having little energy
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
4) Having trouble falling/ staying asleep or the opposite, sleeping too much
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
5) Loss of appetite, eating less or weight loss or the opposite, increased appetite, eating more or weight gain
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
6) Feeling badly about yourself (possibly that you are a failure, have let yourself or your family down)
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
7) Trouble concentrating on things
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
cool Feeling restless, fidgeting or the opposite, feeling as though you're in water, slowed down
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
9) Socializing less, talking less to others, wanting to be alone
a. not at all
b. several days
c. more than half the days
d. nearly every day
10) Have you had any thoughts of hurting yourself in any way or of suicide?
a. none at all
b. some
c. a lot
d. I never stop
Results
Excluding question 10:
Mostly A's:
Your results aren't consistent with clinical depression. However this test isn't a substitute for professional evaluation.
Mostly B's:
Your results indicate a likelihood that you may be suffering from mild depression. However this test is not a substitute for professional evaluation.
Mostly C's:
Your results are consistent with those of moderate depression. However this test is not a substitute for professional evaluation.
Mostly D's:
Your results indicate a high likelihood you may be suffering from severe depression. However this test is not a substitute for professional evaluation.
Question 10:
A: If answered "a" you show no risk of harming yourself however you may still show depressed symptoms.
B: If answered "b" in addition to other depressed symptoms you are advised to immediately see your doctor or health advisor
C: If answered "c" you are advised to immediately seek council with your doctor or health advisor
D: If answered "d" you are advised to see your doctor or a mental health professional immediately for a complete evaluation - or dial "911" - or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255). - or go immediately to the nearest hospital Emergency Room for an evaluation.
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