Depression – When and Where to Reach Out

If you need support with depression, reach out to a counselor, don’t hesitate.

Asking for help can be really, really hard. People who live with depression (major depressive disorder) may feel alone, making it harder to reach out. PsychCentral has an article on 10 Ways to Ask for Help When Depressed.

Depression may happen once in someone’s lifetime or it may occur in episodes. If you’re living with depression, it’s so important to learn effective ways of coping with your symptoms.

Common symptoms of depression include:

Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports

Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort
Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain

Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame

Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Learn more about depression on the Mayo Clinic’s website. They have information on depression in children, teens, and older adults.

It’s useful to understand the cause of depression, which you can also find on Mayo Clinic’s page or discuss with your mental health care provider. It can be an inherited trait, due to biological differences, brain chemical changes, and hormones. Depression can happen to anyone at any age.

Depression can become very serious if your don’t reach out for help, causing complications in all areas of your life, like with family and at work.

Complications:

Excess weight, which leads to heart disease and diabetes
Pain or physical illness
Alcohol or drug misuse
Anxiety, panic disorder or social phobia
Family conflicts, relationship difficulties, and work or school problems

Social isolation
Suicidal feelings, suicide attempts or suicide
Self-mutilation, such as cutting
Premature death from medical conditions

Getting help at the first sign of depression is a way to prevent it from worsening. Take care of yourself, and reduce stress. Use your support system, friends and family whom you trust.