Always feeling blue?
The dangers of staying depressed
By: Gregory Boyce
Who amongst us has not - from time to time allowed the pressures of job security, wars, man-made /
natural disasters, illnesses and of course relationships
to negatively affect our mood at home and at work? e
accumulation of life's pressures along with the media's
insatiable "appetite" for high ratings in the form of
projecting bad news 24/7 has placed millions of
Americans’ psyches in a lonely and dimly lit room.
When "feeling blue" begins to slowly take over our life
and commences to devour our inner peace, it's a sure
bet that the road to depression isn't far away.
Once mental depression sets in, people, routines
and events that once brought us happiness, loses its
magical ability to flip our "happy switches"
consequently leaving us to dwell continually in a "room"
devoid of happy thoughts and happy memories.
When you’re depressed, life may feel hopeless, but with
help and support you can get better. But first, you need
to understand what is depression and how it works.
Learning about and recognizing depression, - including
its signs, symptoms, causes, and
treatment - is the first step to conquering this crippling
malady.
What is depression?
Depression can be defined as a psychiatric condition
accentuated by an unnatural prolonged sadness,
compounded by emotional withdrawal. Some people
describe depression as “living in a dark cave” or having a
feeling of impending doom. However, some depressed
people don't feel sad at all, instead they feel lifeless,
unfilled, and apathetic.
Depression interferes with your ability to work,
eat, study, sleep, and have fun. e feelings of
helplessness, hopelessness, and worthlessness are
intense and unrelenting.
Depression varies from person to person, but there are
some common signs and symptoms. It’s important to
remember that these symptoms can be part of life’s
normal lows. However, the more symptoms you have,
the more intense they are, and the longer they’ve
lasted, indicates more than likely that you’re dealing
with depression.
When these symptoms become overwhelming and
disabling, that's when it's time to seek help. e
symptoms of depression are:
• Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness. A bleak
outlook—nothing will ever get better and there’s
nothing you can do to improve your situation.
• Loss of interest in daily activities. No interest in
former hobbies, pastimes, social activities, or sex.
You’ve lost your ability to feel joy and pleasure.
• Appetite or weight changes. Significant weight loss or
weight gain—a change of more than 5% of body weight
in a month.
•Sleep changes. Either insomnia, especially waking in
the early hours of the morning, or oversleeping (also
known as hypersomnia).
• Irritability or restlessness. Feeling agitated, restless, or
on edge. Your tolerance level is low; everything and
everyone gets on your nerves.
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