Are you feeling down and like life may not be worth living? Are you having a hard time functioning in your life? You may be struggling with depression. Fortunately, treatment can help with depression. If you think you are struggling with depression, let's talk! You are important! Use my handout as a guide toward taking better care of yourself. Also, here is some helpful information about depression.

 

What is Depression?

 

Depression, or Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), is characterized by a depressed mood most of the day, almost every day (i.e. feeling sad, empty, or hopeless)

and diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all activities most of the day, almost every day. Other symptoms of depression include (American Psychiatric Association, 2013):

• changes in appetite: significant weight loss or gain
• changes in sleep: sleeping too much or not able to sleep
• feeling restless or feeling slowed down
• fatigue or loss of energy
• feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• decreased ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness, or feeling "foggy-headed"
• recurrent thoughts of death

 

These symptoms of depression must cause clinically significant distress or cause impairment in everyday functioning in order for an individual to be diagnosed

with depression.

 

The good news is that depression is treatable. Even if life feels like it can or will never get better, it will. Counseling can help. Schedule an appointment today.

 

With depression, it is very common for an individual to have thoughts that life is difficult and thoughts that life might not be worth living. If thoughts progress to

wanting to die or feeling like an individual wants to harm or kill themselves, it is time to seek immediate help. Call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency room.

Any of these thoughts are common to have with depression, and indicate how much pain and stress and individual has. But do not wait. Get help. Life can and

will get better, even if it does not feel like it at the moment.

 

References

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Depressive Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.).