Depression is a feeling of sadness that does not go away. Most people feel sad or “blue” now and then, but if these feelings don’t go away, you may be depressed. Feeling depressed doesn’t mean that a person is weak, or has failed. Depression is a very common illness. Often, like other health problems, depression just happens. Sometimes, depression can start after a stressful event like problems with people, a death, a break-up, having to move, or losing a job. The good news is that most people who are depressed can be helped with medicine and counseling.
What are signs of depression?
If you have more than four of these signs for more than two weeks, you may be depressed.
Changes in Actions:
- Eating too little or too much
- Using drugs or alcohol to feel better
- Not caring about how you look
- Wanting to be left alone most of the time
Changes in Feelings and Thoughts:
- Feeling guilty
- Feeling of sadness that does not go away
- Not able to think clearly
- Thinking that nothing good will ever happen
- Wishing that you were dead
- You don’t enjoy things as much as you used to
- Making a plan to hurt, or kill yourself
- Loss of energy and motivation
- You don’t think that anything good will ever happen again
Health Changes:
- Not able to sleep, or sleeping too much
- Losing weight or gaining weight
How is depression treated?
- You can feel better by getting help. Your care provider can help you get treatment for depression. It is best if depression is treated as soon as possible.
- Counseling can help to cope with stressful events. It can also help people learn to cope with depression.
- Medicine is often used to help depression. Most people will start to feel better in 3 to 4 weeks. It is important to take the medicine as written on the bottle. Call your care provider before changing or stopping your medication. Most people take the medicine for at least 6 months. Often people take the medicine for many years.
Here are some things you can do to help yourself:
- See a health care provider
- Don’t use street drugs or alcohol
- Talk things out with someone you trust
- Avoid making “big changes” or decisions
- Be kind to yourself in what you think and do
- Find things to do with and around other people
- Exercise. Take a walk for 20 to 30 minutes several times each week. (Don’t overdo it!)