3rd Eye Watch Early Pre-Spring Edition | Page 5

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. Continued On Next Page