| The difficulty with many mental | | | | you can begin to have troubles dealing |
| disorders, it's hard to tell when you | | | | with the emotions that come along with |
| need more than just a positive attitude | | | | this anxiety |
| to manage your feelings. Depression is a | | | | - Sense of sadness at the way things are |
| common problem that many people simply | | | | - Feeling like everything is out of |
| think they need to live with, something | | | | control, you begin to feel sad and |
| they need to 'tough out' in order to | | | | despondent. |
| come out better for it. But this is not | | | | - Loss of interest in things you enjoy - |
| necessarily the best treatment plan for | | | | You begin to isolate yourself from |
| this mental illness. Here's what you | | | | others and from the things you love to |
| should know. | | | | do. |
| Defining Depression | | | | - Changes in eating and sleeping - You |
| What's difficult about dealing with | | | | might begin to change the way you eat |
| depression is that it can manifest | | | | and the way you sleep as a way to cope |
| itself in a number of different ways. | | | | with the burdens of your feelings. |
| For some people, depression is merely a | | | | - Feelings of hopelessness - As you |
| short bout of sadness that resolves on | | | | continue to feel bad, you might begin to |
| its own. But for others, it's a long | | | | see things as hopeless and beyond your |
| running presence that makes them feel | | | | control. You begin to not care about |
| ineffective, as well as hopeless. Some | | | | anything. You might stop bathing or |
| of the more common symptoms of | | | | handling even mundane tasks. |
| depression include: | | | | - Feelings of death and suicide - Those |
| - Feeling sad | | | | who feel like they are completely alone |
| - Feeling hopeless | | | | and have no one to turn to will often |
| - Becoming irritated for no reason | | | | begin to have thoughts of death and |
| - Anger and frustration | | | | finally 'ending' it all. |
| - Loss of interest in favorite | | | | When You Should Seek Help |
| activities | | | | Ideally, depression is best treated when |
| - Change in eating habits | | | | you identify the symptoms early and |
| - Change in sleeping habits | | | | begin treatment in the beginning stages. |
| - Thoughts about suicide | | | | When you first notice that you are |
| Diagnosing depression is tricky because | | | | having troubles being happy, you might |
| it requires that you have these symptoms | | | | want to start talking to someone about |
| for extended periods of time - normally | | | | how to handle these emotions. |
| for at least two weeks continuously. And | | | | However, if you don't get help at that |
| while some people can easily identify | | | | point, you will want to certainly begin |
| their down times, others might not | | | | to seek help if you have any feelings |
| recognize symptoms like anger as being | | | | about suicide. This is the lowest point |
| consistent with depression. | | | | that you can hit and while you might not |
| The Stages of Depression | | | | feel you are serious about following |
| While the American Psychological | | | | through on the feeling, it does warrant |
| Association doesn't define clear stages | | | | some additional counseling and guidance. |
| of depression, there does seem to be a | | | | When you may become harmful to yourself |
| pattern among the way that depression | | | | or even to someone else, you will need |
| progresses among people. Here are the | | | | to get professional help. |
| basic issues that may lead to depression | | | | Depression isn't always a cloud that |
| in many people: | | | | passes over quickly, so instead of |
| - Feeling frustrated or overwhelmed - | | | | having to feel alone and isolated, you |
| When life begins to become burdensome, | | | | should try to get help. |