Feeling Blue
Everybody feels blue once in awhile. Whether you've experienced the death of a loved one, the breakup of a relationship or
the end of a job, people normally go through periods of grief and sadness throughout the course of life. But when those feelings
of unhappiness interfere with daily activities and linger for weeks or even months at a time, you may have clinical 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. Most importantly, though, depression should not be thought of as a character flaw. Will power can not 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
If you or someone you know is depressed, seek professional help. Call
1-800-EINSTEIN or
215-877-2000.
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