How do I know if I'm depressed?

Feeling sad, low energy, have lost interest in things that once were pleasurable to you have isolated from everyone and have low self-esteem? You may be experiencing signs of Depression. Don't worry you are not alone we are here to help you figure out what is happening to you and provide you with the tools to help you. Read more.....

What is Depression

Depression in a Mental state characterized by feelings of sadness loneliness, despair, low self-esteem, and self-reproach; accompanying signs include psychomotor retardation or, at times, agitation, withdrawal from interpersonal contact, and vegetative symptoms, such as insomnia and anorexia. The term refers to a mood that is so characterized or to a mood disorder. Mood disorders are a group of clinical conditions characterized by a loss of that sense of control and a subjective experience of great distress. Patients with elevated mood demonstrate expansiveness, flight of ideas, decreased sleep and grandiose ideas. Patients with depressed mood experience a loss of energy and interest, feeling of guilt, difficulty in concentrating, loss of appetite, and thoughts of death or suicide. Other signs and symptoms of mood disorders include change in activity level, cognitive abilities, and speech. These disorders virtually always result in impaired interpersonal, social, and occupational functioning.

Depressive Episodes

A depressed mood and a loss of interest of pleasure are the key symptoms of depression. Patients may say that they feel blue, hopeless, in the dumps. Or worthless. For a patient, the depressed mood often has distinct quality that differentiates it from the normal emotion of sadness or grief. Patients often describe the symptom of depression as one of agonizing emotional pain and sometimes complain about being unable to cry, a symptom that resolves as they improve. Some depressed patients sometimes seem unaware of their depression and do not complain of a mood disturbance, even though they exhibit withdrawal from family, friends, and activities that previously interested them. Almost all depressed patients (97%) complain about reduced energy; they have difficulty finishing tasks, are impaired at school and work, and have less motivation to undertake new projects.

This is not a One Size Fits ALL  Not all patients can recognize or describe what they are feeling  Clinicians and patients may come from different cultural backgrounds may have difficulty agreeing that the problem is depression  The presenting problem can vary greatly from one patient to another. One patient may be slowed down and crying; another will smile and deny that anything is wrong. Some sleep and eat too much; others complain of insomnia and anorexia.  Some patients don’ really feel depressed; rather, they experience depression as a loss of pleasure  Crucial to diagnosis is that the episode must represent a noticeable change from the patient’s usual level of functioning. Family or friends may report that there has been such a change.  The patient must have felt bad most of the day, almost every day, for at least 2 weeks. This requirement is included to ensure that major depressive episodes are differentiated from the transient “down” spells that most of us sometimes feel.

During the 2 weeks just mention, the patient must have at least five of the following:

1. Loss of pleasure 2. Lose appetite and weight gain

3. Sleep disturbance 4. Fatigue 5. Psychomotor retardation 6. Agitated 7. Self-esteem or guilt 8. Lack of concentration 9. Death wishes and suicidal ideas

How to Help Someone Who is Depressed

 The first thing you want to do is let them know that you are there for them  Get active in their care. Let them know that depression is a medical problem and ignoring it will not make it go away.  Let them talk about how they feel and just listen  You can even offer to drive them to treatment  Listen carefully for signs of hopelessness and pessimism, and don’t be afraid to take them to the ER if their safety is in question.  Stay in contact. Call or visit the person. You may need to work extra hard to support and engage someone who is depressed.  Choose an activity that the person finds interesting. Just keep in mind that they may not feel interested in the activity right away.  Focus on small goals and praised them even if is just getting out of bed.  Find Local services: Use support services in your community or online resources such as National Alliance on Mental Illness to help find the right specialists to consult on depression treatment for your friend or family member.  Encourage doctor visits: Encourage the person to visit a physician or psychologist; take medications as prescribed; and participate in cognitive behavioral therapy for depression.

We have good news for those that are suffering from this terrible disorder. Now with the latest FDA approved non-invasive therapy call Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) we can help patients get better without the effects of invasive procedures like ECT. TMS is a safe and effective treatment that brings hope to many. To learn more about TMS and how you can start with TMS treatment visit our webpage for more information.

If you or someone need help visit our website for additional information and guidance:www.mindhopehealth.com

MindHope Of Oviedo, 2019

Note: Some information obtained from: Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry DSM-5 Made Easy, The Clinician’s Guide to Diagnosis by James Morrison Online