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Cabrillo's Alcohol and Drug Policy Health in the News: Health
Finder® |
More
Than "The Blues" While we often talk about being depressed, real depression is more than feeling blue or being sad. Brief episodes of sadness are natural and usually have a temporary effect on our everyday lives. In serious depression, as in many major illnesses, symptoms that go untreated may continue indefinitely with devastating effects. We may have difficulty getting out of bed or leaving the house. We may refuse to go to work and class or withdraw from friends and family. At times, we feel so hopeless that life doesn't seem worth living. What causes some people to become seriously depressed when tragedy or misfortune strikes, while others recover quickly? While life events or circumstances often trigger episodes of depression, the causes of depression can vary from one person to the next. We still don't understand why, when presented with the same set of factors, one person becomes depressed and another doesn't. Genetics, personality and environmental factors may all play a role. Sometimes brain chemistry changes and for no apparent reason, even people who have been happy, loved and fulfilled become seriously depressed. So who's depressed- your neighbor, teacher, boss or relative? Perhaps you are. Depression does not discriminate. It strikes people of all ages, races, genders, incomes and educational backgrounds. The World Health Organization ranks depression as one of the four most devastating illnesses worldwide. What are the signs of depression? Take a moment to answer these questions or ask a friend who may be having difficulty. Are you having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much? Are you rapidly gaining or losing weight? Have you been feeling sad, hopeless or anxious, all day, everyday, for at least two weeks? Are you missing classes? Do you find your head filled with negative, persistent thoughts? Are drinking, drug use or other behaviors out of your control? Is it difficult to find pleasure in the things you usually enjoy? Do you have thoughts of hurting yourself or someone else? Has anyone expressed concern for your well being? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you could benefit from talking with someone you trust or a counselor. So what can you do if you know someone who is depressed? Listen to them. Be patient and supportive. Learn everything you can about depression. Do not criticize or shame them for the way they feel. Refer them to the Cabrillo College Student Health Center's web site, www. cabrillo.cc.ca.us/studserv/Healthserv, to take a confidential screening for depression, or call Student Services, 479-6378, to schedule an appointment with a personal counselor. What can you do if you are depressed? Do the same things you would do for a friend. Take care of yourself by seeking support. No matter how hopeless you feel at this moment, your despair is an urgent signal to take positive action. Start today. A thirty-five year old re-entry student came to see me for counseling after the death of her son and divorce from her husband of twelve years. A friend of hers had urged her to seek counseling when she had mentioned her overwhelming despair and thoughts of suicide. Depression has been around for a long time. The early Romans called it "melancholia", What are the signs of depression? Depression is diagnosed if a person experiences 1) persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness or anxiety or 2) loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities in addition to five or more of the following symptoms for at least 2 consecutive weeks. Changes in appetite that result in weight losses or gains not related to dieting; insomnia or oversleeping; loss of energy or extreme fatigue, restlessness or irritability; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt, difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions; or thoughts of death or suicide or attempts at suicide. Depression is diagnosed if the above symptoms are not due to other conditions or illness and are not side effects of medications or substance abuse. When we are challenged with an old way of being or thinking, depression may be a state we enter in order to deal with the crisis and hopefully emerge more true to ourselves. |