– by Trysh Ashby-Rolls –
To say that depression is a friend who always comes back sounds negative indeed. But if you have suffered from depression you’ll understand. Some say depression is a useful coping skill, cloud cover under which to figure out the next step. For those debilitated by this “cloud,” it never feels useful. Or fun.
Depression is a mood disorder that affects one in eight Canadians. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are eight kinds:
• Anxious distress – unusual restlessness or worry about possible events or loss of control;
• Mixed features – simultaneous depression and mania, which includes elevated self-esteem, talking too much, and racing thoughts and ideas;
• Melancholic features – severe depression with a profound lack of response to something that used to bring pleasure, associated with early morning awakening, worsened mood in the morning, significant changes in appetite, and feelings of guilt, agitation or sluggishness;
• Atypical features – ability to be cheered by happy events, increased appetite, little need for sleep, sensitivity to rejection, and a heavy feeling in arms or legs;
• Psychotic features – depression accompanied by delusions or hallucinations, which may involve themes of personal inadequacy or negative themes;
• Catatonia – includes motor activity that involves either uncontrollable and purposeless movement or fixed and inflexible posture;
• Peripartum onset – occurs during pregnancy or in the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum);
• Seasonal pattern – related to changes in seasons and diminished exposure to sunlight.
During depressive episodes, symptoms occur most of the day, nearly every day. Some people experience such severe symptoms it’s obvious something is wrong. Others feel generally miserable or unhappy without knowing why. Symptoms may include:
• Feelings of sadness, emptiness or unhappiness;
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters;
• Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex;
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much;
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort;
• Changes in appetite – often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people;
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness – for example, excessive worrying, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still;
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements;
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that are not your responsibility;
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things;
• Frequent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide;
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.
Most importantly, there are things a depressed person is advised to do. First, get checked out by a doctor who understands depression. Be honest. A grief response to the death of a loved one is normal. Yet if it goes on and on without ameliorating, you require help. Unless you say so, the doctor won’t know. Don’t give in. If you are depressed, you’re not able to think things through properly and make good decisions. Besides, who wants depression to win?
If your doctor offers medication you may have to try a variety to find the one that’s right for you. Type and dosage are not an exact science. As one who has suffered from severe depressions all my life, medication is more than worth a try. It may be a life-saver.
Remember, all things must pass – depression included.
