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Depression
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Plain Talk About Depression
Introduction
Do you think you're alone with your problems--or that you've gotten a really rotten deal?
Are you so down in the dumps that you've got to look up just to see the bottom of your
shoes?
Sure, we all feel "down" now and then. But if you're sad most of the time and
the hopelessness just won't go away...maybe the problem is depression.
Depression is A Serious Illness, but, there's good news...
Even if you feel like nothing matters or no one cares, the "good news" is that
most people suffering from depression can be helped with medicine, counseling, or both
together.
So don't hang back about asking for help because depression can get worse or last a whole
lot longer when it isn't treated.
Let's get serious here. Having depression doesn't mean that a person is weak, or a
failure, or isn't really trying. Depression is a very real and common illness.
Sometimes, like other illnesses, depression just happens. Other times, depression can
follow something like a divorce or death in the family, someone you love getting busted, a
move, or a messed up home life.
Often there's a link between depression and getting into trouble: trouble with alcohol,
street drugs, or sex; trouble with school or bad grades; problems with family or friends.
So remember, when your problems seem too big, and you're feeling too low for too long,
you're not alone. There's help out there. You really can ask for help.
Depression Affects Your Thoughts, Feelings, Health And Behavior
Check yourself out:
Here's how to tell if you are depressed.
First, there are two kinds of depressive illnesses: The sad kind called depression, and
the up-and-down kind called manic-depression when manic behavior alternates with
depression.
For both depression and manic behavior, you should go to a doctor if you've had four or
more of the following symptoms for longer than 2 weeks:
When You're Depressed:
- You feel sad a lot, and it doesn't go away.
- You feel guilty; you think that you're no good; you have no confidence.
- Life seems meaningless, and you don't think anything good is ever going to happen again.
You feel empty and hopeless.
- You lose interest in ordinary pleasures like music, sports, friends, or having fun. You
really want to be left alone most of the time.
- It's hard to make up you mind. You forget things, and it's hard to concentrate.
- You get angry or irritated often. You're so touchy that you lose control for no
particular reason. You over-react.
- There's often a change in sleeping and eating habits.
- You feel restless or tired most of the time.
- You think about death a lot or thoughts about suicide pop into your mind.
Or When You're Manic:
- You feel high as a kite...you think you're super.
- You get unreal ideas about the great things you're going to do...things you never really
could do.
- Thoughts go racing through your head.
- You're a non-stop party, constantly running around.
- You're so "up" that you don't need much sleep.
- You take too many dumb chances like wild driving.
- You're rebellious, goof off at the wrong time, and don't get along at home or at school.
Where To Go For Help:
There are lots of people ready and willing to help!
- A family doctor or a doctor in a hospital clinic, a school counselor, a social worker,
- or a mental health professional at a community mental health center.
For free info about depression, leave your name and address at this number: 1-800-421-4211
...or you can write: Depression, Room 7C-02, Rockville, MD 20857.
Remember, you can help yourself, a family member, or a friend find treatment for
depression. DO IT NOW.
- "When I have a problem, I pray for guidance. Next, I get more information about the
problem and some solutions. That means, when people I care about feel worthless or sad, I
encourage them to pray and to get good professional help in order to feel better. Please
do the same for yourself and for your friends." "Learning to love yourself is
the greatest love of all."
- - Whitney Houston, Grammy Award Winning Recording Artist
- "Don't be sidelined by depression. Do something about it now. There are three kinds
of people: those who watch what happens; those who wonder what happened; and those who
make things happen. Which are you? You can make things happen. If you or someone you know
is depressed, call for help now!!"
- - Charles A. Mann, Washington Redskins, All Pro Defensive End #71
The
Depression/Awareness, Recognition, and Treatment (D/ART) program thanks Whitney Houston
and Charles Mann for their concern for people, for encouraging depressed people to get
professional help, and for their support of the D/ART public education program.
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
- Public Health Service
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute of Mental Health
- DHHS Publication No. (ADM) 91-1695
- Printed 1991
Bulk sales (Stock No. 017-024-01430-3) by the U.S. Government Printing
Office, Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328.
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