Have you ever been trying to cope with life’s challenges and someone says, “Just get over it already” but you cannot seem to ‘get over it?’ Has there been a time when you want to retire to your bed and never leave? Have you felt that one minute you were happy and smiling and then (like the wind blowing) a brush of sadness fills your body? Perhaps you could be suffering from some form of depression. The Mayo Clinic has provided information about depression in women. I will briefly share some of the facts the Mayo Clinic discussed. If you would like more in-depth information, please visit their website at http://www.mayoclinic.com/.
For some reason, it is not hard to believe that about 1 in 8 women develop depression at some point in life. Women are nearly twice as likely as are men to struggle with depression at some point. Depression can occur at any age, but it is most common in women between the ages of 25 and 44. Depression can fall into one of several categories. They include: major depressive disorder (also know as major depression, clinical depression); dysthymic disorder; manic depression; post partum depression; seasonal affective disorder; anxiety depression; atypical depression; chronic depression; double depression; endogenous depression; situation depression or reactive depression; agitated depression; psychotic depression; melancholic depression; and catatonic depression. http://www.depression-help-resource.com/types-of-depression.htm. Depending on the type of depression one is suffering from, the symptoms may be different which means the treatment may also differ. I encourage you to seek some type of treatment to get you back to where you want to be.
There are self care steps you can follow to aid in treating your depression (in addition to professional treatment):
- Stick to your treatment plan. Don't skip psychotherapy sessions or appointments, even if you don't feel like going. Even if you're feeling well, resist any temptation to skip your medications. If you stop, depression symptoms may come back, and you could also experience withdrawal-like symptoms.
- Learn about depression. Education about your condition can empower you and motivate you to stick to your treatment plan.
- Pay attention to warning signs. Work with your doctor or therapist to learn what might trigger your depression symptoms. Make a plan so that you know what to do if your symptoms get worse. Contact your doctor or therapist if you notice any changes in symptoms or how you feel. Ask family members or friends to help watch for warning signs.
- Get exercise. Physical activity reduces depression symptoms. Consider walking, jogging, swimming, gardening or taking up another activity you enjoy.
- Avoid alcohol and street drugs. It may seem like alcohol or drugs lessen depression symptoms, but in the long run they generally worsen symptoms and make depression harder to treat.
The Mayo Clinic offers a free depression self assessment. The assessment consists of 9 questions where you select the answers from a drop-down box. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/MH00103_D.
Ladies, when your sister/friend is sharing with you, listen closely. Sometimes your sister/friend just wants you to be their sounding board and listen; then there are other times when they are crying for help and they do not know exactly how to put it into words. I encourage you not to discount one another’s emotions because they are real.
I will close this blog with the following quote from Cherrie Moraga, “Sometimes a breakdown can be the beginning of a kind of breakthrough, a way of living in advance through a trauma that prepares you for a future of radical transformation.”
Be Inspired and Inspire Someone
No comments:
Post a Comment