How to Identify Depression Like most mental illness, depression runs the continuum of severity. It can be mild or major. It can also last for weeks to months. Not only that, it can also involve anxiety symptoms. Primarily, depression is characterized by sadness or the loss of pleasure in nearly all activities. It's also possible to have symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and psychomotor activity (changes in both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).
Struggling with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty concentrating or making decisions is a person who is depressed. Often, in children and adolescents, the mood is manifested as irritability instead of sadness. Some people may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all and may deny having feelings of sadness.
When Taking Action First, it is important to look at how severely one's functioning may be impaired. In case the person's level of functioning has been impaired significantly, such as if they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, then immediately seek professional help. A good place to start is to take a trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder.
Assessing whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression is the next thing you need to do.
Third, if your loved one indicates they have a plan or intentions to harm themselves, take action immediately to get help. You can either check your phone book for community mental health services or you can call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source. You can also call 1-800-784-2433 a suicide prevention hotline. In case the threat is imminent, you should call 911.
Avoid Waiting and Just Get Help There are times when people do not seek help and one of the biggest reasons is because they feel shame about having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind? If people avoid seeking help because of the shame they feel, then they only languish longer than necessary.
How can Counseling Help? A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness; resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.
However, in addition to counseling, depending on the severity of the depression, medication may also be a treatment option. What you can do is discuss this with your counselor who could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.
For difficulties that plague our minds, relief is also available. It is truly the wise that seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind.
Struggling with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty concentrating or making decisions is a person who is depressed. Often, in children and adolescents, the mood is manifested as irritability instead of sadness. Some people may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all and may deny having feelings of sadness.
When Taking Action First, it is important to look at how severely one's functioning may be impaired. In case the person's level of functioning has been impaired significantly, such as if they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, then immediately seek professional help. A good place to start is to take a trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder.
Assessing whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression is the next thing you need to do.
Third, if your loved one indicates they have a plan or intentions to harm themselves, take action immediately to get help. You can either check your phone book for community mental health services or you can call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source. You can also call 1-800-784-2433 a suicide prevention hotline. In case the threat is imminent, you should call 911.
Avoid Waiting and Just Get Help There are times when people do not seek help and one of the biggest reasons is because they feel shame about having a mental illness. The reality is that our minds are vulnerable to illness just like our bodies. There is no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition, so why is there with the mind? If people avoid seeking help because of the shame they feel, then they only languish longer than necessary.
How can Counseling Help? A counselor can help a person gain perspective about their illness; resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.
However, in addition to counseling, depending on the severity of the depression, medication may also be a treatment option. What you can do is discuss this with your counselor who could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.
For difficulties that plague our minds, relief is also available. It is truly the wise that seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind.
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