I am concerned about Depression
Depression affects over one in five adults over the course of their lifetime, making it the most common mental health problem
in the United States. Episodes of depression can be brought on by biological imbalances in the brain or various life stressors,
such as divorce, illness or loss of a job. Most importantly, though, depression should not be thought of as a character flaw.
Will power cannot stop it and "pulling yourself up by the bootstraps" is no more effective in relieving depression than in
treating diabetes. The most important step in the battle against depression is asking for help.
Symptoms of Depression:
Depression means more than just feeling sad. It can dramatically affect a person's behavior, social activities, family life
and physical health, as well as produce signs of anxiety and irritability. Some of the most common symptoms of depression
include:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness
- Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities or hobbies
- Losing or gaining weight
- Sleeping difficulties — either sleeping too much or too little
- Feeling exhausted and fatigued
- No energy
- Not being able to concentrate
- Feeling like a failure
- Thinking about death and suicide a lot
- Crying a lot
- Physical problems, such as nausea, headaches and digestive disorders
- Lack of interest in sex
What You Can Do to Help
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of a depression, don't wait for the problem to go away by itself. Get help
now.
When you need someone to talk to, turn to Belmont Behavioral Health at 1-800-220-HELP (4357) or 215-877-2000.
