Are you feeling anxious, on edge - and
yet tired all the time, waking early, feeling as if you
haven't slept? Do you no longer enjoy things which used to
be fun? If so, you may not be just 'stressed' but suffering
from a common, sometimes disabling illness - Depression.
Other symptoms of depression include: •
Loss of concentration and memory • Feeling sad and down for
no reason • Significant change in appetite or weight •
Chronic pain • Loss of interest in sex, or even in just
being around people • Excessive use of alcohol • Feeling
like a failure • Having no hope for the future - and
possibly thoughts of suicide.
Most of us occasionally have symptoms
like this, but in depressive illness at least five major
symptoms are present most of each day for longer than 2
months. Depressive illness is often not diagnosed because
sadness and crying are not always the main complaints. In
children signs of depression include losing interest in
school or hobbies, sleeping poorly, and complaining of head
and stomach aches In the elderly, depression may present as
pain, increased confusion or alcohol abuse
Depression is more than normal sadness
after a loss, it's a physical condition in which low levels
of the chemicals serotonin and nor-epinephrine interfere
with the function of the 'mood centre' of the brain. It's
associated with other disorders such as PMS, fibromyalgia,
migraine, panic disorder and obsessional worrying. It also
plays a major role in many other illnesses, including heart
attacks, obesity and chronic pain.
Severe depression is like a grey fog
blanketing one’s life, sapping energy, taking away joy, and
making it very difficult to function normally for any length
of time. You can't just 'pull yourself together' or 'snap
out of it'.
Causes vary and are often combined. Bouts
of severe depression or just chronic dissatisfaction and
pessimism often run in families. Deeply buried, painful
emotions such as anger, fear or guilt, and childhood abuse
or neglect may set the stage, stress overload can set it off
and it's more common if you are poor, in a job that seems
meaningless or have a chronic illness. Women suffer
depression more than men, possibly because of hormones and
brain chemistry, burning out from a constant 'caregiver'
role in life, or holding anger inside.
If you feel stressed and are not coping
well, tell your doctor about all your symptoms because once
diagnosed, 85% of depression responds well to treatment,
with a combination of:
* Counselling to help change distorted,
negative thinking and identify hidden emotions such as anger
and guilt * Antidepressant drugs which help normalize
the brain chemistry, improving sleep and increasing energy
and motivation. * Activity - such as exercise * Some herbal
remedies, acupuncture and meditation may help.
The big danger in depression is suicide.
It's vital to get expert help if you are experiencing
feelings of isolation, loss of hope for the future, or
intense, recurrent suicidal thoughts. Remember, depression
is not a sign of weakness or insanity - in fact taking the
steps needed to recover may well give us an opportunity to
grow stronger and eventually have a happier, more fulfilling
life.
