How to Identify Depression
Depression, like most mental illness runs the continuum of severity. It can be mild or major. It’s also likely to last from weeks to months. Not only that, it can also involve anxiety symptoms. Primarily characterized by sadness and/or loss of pleasure in nearly all activities is called depression. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as changes in appetite, sleep patterns, and psychomotor activity (changes in both mental and physical responsiveness and/or activity).
If a person is depressed, then they may struggle with feelings of low self worth, recurrent thoughts of dying, as well as difficulty in making decisions. The mood is often manifested as irritability rather than sadness in children and adolescents. There are people who may deny having feelings of sadness and instead, they may report feeling numb or having no feelings at all.
When Taking Action
Looking at how severely one’s functioning may be impaired is an important first step. If the person’s level of functioning has been significantly impaired, i.e. they are having difficulty performing their daily routine, seek professional help immediately. A trip to the family doctor to rule out any medical conditions that might be causing the mood disorder is a good place to start.
The next thing you need to do is assess whether there have been any significant changes in circumstances, relationships etc. that may be contributing to the depression.
Third, if ever your loved ones indicate that they have a plan or are intending to hurt themselves, then you need to take immediate action to get help. Call a mental health professional that you have been referred to by a reliable source or check your phone book for community mental health services. Calling 1-800-784-2433, which is a suicide prevention hotline, is also another option. If the threat is imminent, call 911.
Don’t Wait 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 truth is that our minds, just like our bodies, are also vulnerable to illness. Why is there shame when it comes to the mind but there’s no shame in developing the flu or some other medical condition? In fact, those people only languish longer than necessary if they avoid seeking help because of the shame.
Can Counseling Really Help?
Helping a person gain perspective about their illness is a counselor and they can resolve problems that may be contributing to the depression and assist the person in developing coping skills.
But in addition to counseling, medication may also be a treatment option depending on the severity of the depression. When you discuss this with your counselor, he or she could then refer you to a psychiatrist to prescribe and manage the necessary medication.
For difficulties that plague our minds, relief is also available. This means that those who seek out the help, wisdom and counsel of those whom God has equipped to facilitate the healing of the mind are non other than the wise.
We’re in the baton rouge bathroom remodel business. We have designed a process that makes baton rouge bathroom remodel economical, straightforward and stress free.