Blues or Depression – how do you know?

Is this the ‘blues’ or am I struggling with depression?

Human Services, Inc.

We all have times when we feel blue, are overwhelmed by everyday tasks, have difficulty sleeping, lack joy in life, or find it difficult to concentrate. However, if any or all of these feelings become frequent and persistent, they may be symptoms of depression, and should be taken seriously. Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively impacts feelings, thoughts, and actions. It affects men and women of all ages, cultures, races, and income levels.

However, the very word “depression” can be confusing, as it is used both in a general and a clinical sense. We often say that we are “depressed” when we are blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, however, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her.

Depression is a common but serious medical illness that involves changes in the brain. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, your feelings of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Such symptoms can include sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, and even thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women, who can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people suffer “seasonal affective disorder” in the winter, which involves depression. Depression is also one part of bipolar disorder. Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Such illnesses may precede the depression, cause it, and may be a consequence of it.

Although depression can affect anyone, there are a few groups that are particularly vulnerable. These include the elderly; suicide rates are highest among people aged 65 years and older, with men in that age group having the highest rates of all. The next most vulnerable group is adolescents; suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 years. When depression is combined with substance abuse, the risk for self-harm goes up dramatically for any age group.

Left untreated, depression wreaks havoc on a person’s quality of life. It may worsen symptoms of other diseases, and even can be fatal. People who have a stroke or heart attack, for example, are more likely to die if they have depression.

The good news is that depression is treatable, even in severe cases. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people respond well to treatment, and most gain at least some relief from their symptoms. The first step is to visit a doctor. Your family doctor or a health clinic is a good place to start. A doctor can make sure that the symptoms of depression are not being caused by another medical condition. A doctor may refer you to a mental health professional.

Most insurance plans cover treatment for depression. Check with your own insurance company to find out what type of treatment is covered. If you don’t have insurance, local city or county governments may offer treatment at a clinic or health center, where the cost is based on income. Medicaid plans also may pay for depression treatment.

People who are depressed often need those who care about them to lead the way. If you are concerned about depression in yourself or someone else, it is important to seek help. Discuss your concerns with a health care or mental health professional and request a complete evaluation. Remember that depression is treatable, and the proper diagnosis and treatment can restore the sufferer to enjoyment of life.

- HSI, a nonprofit organization with seven offices located throughout Washington County, annually serves more than 8,600 people, offering a variety of services to adults, children, adolescents, and families.

Source: http://www.review-news.com/main.asp?SectionID=60&SubSectionID=126&ArticleID=5341

Is this the ‘blues’ or am I struggling with depression?

From Human Services, Inc.

We all have times when we feel blue, are overwhelmed by everyday tasks, have difficulty sleeping, lack joy in life, or find it difficult to concentrate. However, if any or all of these feelings become frequent and persistent, they may be symptoms of depression, and should be taken seriously. Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively impacts feelings, thoughts, and actions. It affects men and women of all ages, cultures, races, and income levels.

However, the very word “depression” can be confusing, as it is used both in a general and a clinical sense. We often say that we are “depressed” when we are blue or sad, but these feelings are usually fleeting and pass within a couple of days. When a person has a depressive disorder, however, it interferes with daily life, normal functioning, and causes pain for both the person with the disorder and those who care about him or her.

Depression is a common but serious medical illness that involves changes in the brain. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, your feelings of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Such symptoms can include sadness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, and even thoughts of death or suicide.

Depression can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women, who can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people suffer “seasonal affective disorder” in the winter, which involves depression. Depression is also one part of bipolar disorder. Depression often co-exists with other illnesses. Such illnesses may precede the depression, cause it, and may be a consequence of it.

Although depression can affect anyone, there are a few groups that are particularly vulnerable. These include the elderly; suicide rates are highest among people aged 65 years and older, with men in that age group having the highest rates of all. The next most vulnerable group is adolescents; suicide is the third leading cause of death for young people aged 15-24 years. When depression is combined with substance abuse, the risk for self-harm goes up dramatically for any age group.

Left untreated, depression wreaks havoc on a person’s quality of life. It may worsen symptoms of other diseases, and even can be fatal. People who have a stroke or heart attack, for example, are more likely to die if they have depression.

The good news is that depression is treatable, even in severe cases. Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people respond well to treatment, and most gain at least some relief from their symptoms. The first step is to visit a doctor. Your family doctor or a health clinic is a good place to start. A doctor can make sure that the symptoms of depression are not being caused by another medical condition. A doctor may refer you to a mental health professional.

Most insurance plans cover treatment for depression. Check with your own insurance company to find out what type of treatment is covered. If you don’t have insurance, local city or county governments may offer treatment at a clinic or health center, where the cost is based on income. Medicaid plans also may pay for depression treatment.

People who are depressed often need those who care about them to lead the way. If you are concerned about depression in yourself or someone else, it is important to seek help. Discuss your concerns with a health care or mental health professional and request a complete evaluation. Remember that depression is treatable, and the proper diagnosis and treatment can restore the sufferer to enjoyment of life.

- HSI, a nonprofit organization with seven offices located throughout Washington County, annually serves more than 8,600 people, offering a variety of services to adults, children, adolescents, and families.

Source: http://www.review-news.com/main.asp?SectionID=60&SubSectionID=126&ArticleID=5341

7 Steps To Banishing Feelings of Helplessness in Mothers

Working with a mothering coach on the things you can change, can diminish helpless feelings

We all experience helplessness at times. YUK! And double YUK!

Helplessness is one of the most painful emotions human beings can feel. Helplessness is a state of acute powerlessness that is almost unbearable. So unbearable that people will do and tell themselves almost anything to get rid of the feeling.

When helplessness is severe

Suicidal feelings are often a result of helplessness. When we are so helpless and out of control of our lives, it can make us feel empowered to think that we have a solution at hand, and that solution (suicide) is something within our control.

Anger and rage are also feelings that stem from helplessness. Murderous feelings and actions can stem from feeling helpless. Again, we so desperately need to feel like there is a solution because nobody likes to feel helpless.

Is helplessness a normal feeling?

While suicidal feelings are severe symptoms of postpartum depression (requiring immediate help and attention from an expert who is experienced in working with PPD), feelings of helplessness are also normal in new mothers.

Why do new moms feel so helpless?

Anne Pleshette Murphy, author of the book, “The Seven Stages of Motherhood” describes this beautifully:

“One of the reasons we’re so acutely aware of our newborns’ helplessness is that we feel so helpless ourselves. But unlike the preceding nine months, during which you were often fussed over and pampered, treated as though you were a helpless baby, now you’re expected to act like a grown-up, to be a mom!

..Some part of our unconscious self identifies intensely with our babies; we experience a kind of fierce neediness, a feeling of vulnerability athat runs counter to everyone’s expectations of how we should behave. Yes, we’re allowed to be exhausted, weepy, even unwashed, but to curl into a ball in bed jut won’t fly in most Western households.

Of course, if you happen to live in the Japanese islands of the Goto Archipelago, you’re expected to take to your bed. There, new mothers spend at least one month wrapped almost cocoonlike with their newborns while their own mothers feed and serve them. The doting grandmothers even use a kind of singsong “motherese,” underscoring their recognition of a new mother’s vulnerability and helplessness.”

What can we do about feeling helpless?

1. Recognize

When a new mom is feeling helpless, one of the most comforting things she can hear is that somebody understands she is feeling utterly helpless and (if suicidal or depressed or anxious) she may see no way out of her helplessness. Before helping her find a constructive solution, she first needs to know that her feelings of helplessness are recognized, understood and accepted.

2. Identify

Next is to figure out the actual issue that she is feeling most helpless about. What is she trying to do that she cannot do? For some moms it has to do with getting the baby to nurse, to grow or to sleep. For other moms it’s about being able to find time and energy for other things – work, housework, other children etc.

3. List

Next, begin to actually write down a list of the things that are causing the feelings of helplessness. Keep going until the list is exhausted.

4. What cannot be changed?

Next divide the list up into things that cannot be changed. These are the things that must be accepted. Place an “A” for “Accept” next to those list items. For example here are some things that my clients talk about that cannot be changed.

-I am a single mom and I have to work. I wish I could be a stay-at-home mom.
-I want to be a perfect mom so my child grows up without any problems.

Both of these things require acceptance. The single mom has to work and nobody can mother perfectly! Not one of us!

5. What can be changed?

Next, write a “C” for “Change” next to the list items that can be changed. For example, here are some things my clients talk about that can be changed or modified.

-I am neglecting my own needs.
-I am exhausted.
-I can’t get my baby to sleep long enough for me to rest.

6. Create a plan of change.

Once these changeable things have been identified, you can brainstorm and problem-solve ways to begin modifying them. Talk to friends, other moms, your partner or a new mother coach.

7. Take action

Choose one item to tackle first and decide what steps you can put in place that will create the change and the results you want, and then TAKE ACTION.

When you take action, you reduce your feelings of helplessness!