Most people suffer from sadness from time to time. Life has its ups and downs, and enduring periods of sadness or feeling melancholy sometimes is normal. It is when you can’t bounce back from those “downs” after a fair amount of time that there is cause for concern. In these situations, it might be necessary to seek the help of a professional.
Symptoms of Depression
According to WebMD, an estimated 19 million American adults are living with major depression. If you are experiencing feelings of hopelessness that you can’t seem to shake, review the following symptoms of depression outlined by the National Institute of Mental Health to see if you could be suffering from depression:
- Loss of interest in normal daily activities
- Feeling sad or down
- Hopelessness
- Crying spells for no apparent reason
- Problems sleeping
- Trouble focusing or concentrating
- Difficulty making decisions
- Unintentional weight gain or loss
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Easily annoyed
- Feeling fatigued or weak
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Decreased libido
- Thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
The DSM-IV [American Psychological Association, 1994] states that experiencing just five of the above symptoms during the same 2-week period could lead to a diagnosis of depression. One of the five symptoms should include a depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.
Getting Help for Depression
If you find that you are experiencing the symptoms of depression, the best plan of attack is to get help early. Treating the problem in the beginning stages can help prevent your symptoms from snowballing into more debilitating depression. According to psychologyinfo.com, one of the challenges of depression is the patient’s ability to get help since the very nature of depression can interfere with this. Symptoms like low energy and feelings of hopelessness can make the expectation of picking up the phone, scheduling an appointment, and getting to an appointment seem like insurmountable tasks.
Take action now in case it is more difficult later. There are many ways of finding a counselor. If you have a friend or family member who has struggled with depression, ask them for a recommendation. Insurance providers can also give you a list of counselors who are covered by your insurance plan (your request for information is confidential). You can also do a quick search by location and type of counselor on the American Psychological Association’s website to find a therapist convenient to your location and who suits your particular needs.
Depression is a serious state that not only effects your quality of life, but also can become life-threatening. If you suspect that you are suffering from depression, seek help now.
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