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The Signs of Depression are UnmistakableThe signs of depression are unmistakable. Every year there are over 19 million American adults who are suffering from the symptoms of depression and who are dealing with the impact of depression in their every day lives. An alarming 5 million teens experience teenage depression and, like their adult counterparts, are struggling through their young lives plagued with the symptoms of teen depression.
Depression is not a discriminatory disease. It affects men, women, teens, adolescents, and children across racial, age, and socioeconomic boundaries although women exhibit signs of depression in a 2 to 1 ratio over men. That is, women are twice as likely to suffer from the symptoms of depression than men. The cognitive therapy approach to the treatment of depression posits that women are socialized to suppress feelings of anger and to accept the position of powerlessness whereas anger is a socially acceptable feeling for men and men are taught to experience and recognize feelings of power.Depression is a mental, emotional, and physical disorder. It affects the way a person eats, sleeps, feels about him or her self, energy levels, motivation, ability to experience happiness, and the overall thinking patterns. Many of the above affected areas have a self-perpetuating effect. That is, things feel and actually can get worse due to the symptoms cascading effect. Major and serious depression can have a devastating effect on the individual who is depressed but it also has a devastating effect on those who love or care about them. The destruction of families and careers is a common outcome of long term bouts with depression. Individuals who are experiencing and dealing with the symptoms of depression suffer psychological pain and physical pain as well as emotional pain. It is no wonder that depression comes at great costs to the individual, families, society at large, and the economy. People who have low self-esteem are more prone to becoming depressed and to suffer from feelings of worthlessness and powerlessness. Everyone has a “bad mood” day or feels down now and then but those who are depressed experience the signs and symptoms of depression for weeks or months at a time. The dark glasses of depression can become a stable way of viewing the world and the self. The feelings of hopelessness and helplessness that arise from the imprint of depression can become worse and more destructive if gone untreated. Many of us don’t think of depression as a disease and therefore do not put it in the same category as coronary heart disease, cancer, or diabetes. Consequently most people who suffer from depression do not seek help. This is a mistake because depression is a very treatable disease with a high success rate in treatment. Not everyone who is depressed experiences the same symptoms of depression. Some people experience a few symptoms but the severity is high others may experience many symptoms with low levels of severity. The severity of the symptoms and the number of symptoms varies from one individual to another and those symptoms can fluctuate over time. * Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood * Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism * Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness * Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyable * Loss of interest in sexual activity * Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down” * Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions * Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping* Changes in appetite –decreased appetite causing weight loss or overeating and weight gain * Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts * Restlessness, irritability * Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain * Fluctuation mood throughout the day. * Disruption of the usual sleep pattern * A general slowing down of thinking, speech, and movement * Feelings of Anxiety * Tearfulness for no apparent reason * Shortness of tolerance or short temper * Lack of energy and/or exhaustion * Inability to experience enjoyment * Being forgetful * Feelings of confusion in general * Inability to concentrate * Difficulty making decisions * Negative thoughts about the future * Being preoccupied with minor pain or illness * Feeling lonely even in the presence of others * Loss of identity * Feelings of guilt * An unrealistic sense of failure * Negative feelings about the self The information above paints a bleak picture but it is important to remember that depression is not a static or constant state. It is not as simple as you either are depressed or you are not depressed. An emotional state can go from feeling “down” to a full-blown clinical depression. Some people can emerge from feelings of depression with self-help techniques. Others need professional intervention. Cognitive behavioral therapeutic techniques have been proven highly effective in the treatment and emergence from depression.
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