Depression Help/Support

Depression plagues millions of people, and the results can be crippling. You may find that simple day-to-day activities are extremely difficult, and you don’t know why.

Poor concentration, social isolation, and irregular sleeping or eating activities may be symptoms of depression. You can sometimes go through a large part of your life feeling depressed, and not realize it.

You may be familiar with the expression “walking around dead”. Pain becomes a way of life. When this occurs, it may take further examination to uncover the roots of your depression.

Often, you can unconsciously give clues to what is ailing you, and not be aware that you’re doing it. We can explore together the sources of your depression through our counseling and give you tools for your recovery and healing.

Depression Information

Depression is the number one mental health problem in America. Many people think of depression as a long-term, deep sadness, something that takes place in the mind and its emotions. While that’s true to an extent, depression also has a destructive effect on the body.

What causes depression? Many factors can lead to depression. I will list a few.

Outside stressors can be significant factors. A major loss such as divorce, a death, loss of job promotion, or financial reversal can place considerable stress on your emotions and health. Often stressful or painful events pile together in a short time period—for example, a death in the family, a job loss, and a serious illness all within a short period. Other stressors can include a major life change or a trauma to self-image.

Some emotional factors that contribute to depression include low self esteem (feelings of inferiority), loneliness (lack of intimacy with other people), and lack of intimacy with God.

Although a chemical imbalance (depletion of a chemical neurotransmitter called norepenphrine or noradrenaline) may be a contributor, it is usually not the cause of depression. Your emotional/psychological state is generally at the root of your depression.

What’s Your Depression Potential?

The following inventory is taken from The Complete Life Encyclopedia by Frank Minirth, M.D., Paul Meier, M.D. and Steven Arterburn, M.Ed. You may wish to print this page.

This inventory will help you determine your potential for depression and depression-related problems. Place a check in front of each statement you agree with. A key for evaluating the results appears at the end of this inventory.

___  1.    I feel like crying more often that I did a year ago.
___  2.    I have lost interest in the things I used to enjoy.
___  3.    I feel blue and sad.
___  4.    I feel helpless a good part of the time.
___  5.    I feel hopeless about the future.
___  6.    I feel that I am not useful or needed.
___  7.    I am losing my appetite.
___  8.    I notice I am losing weight without trying.
___  9.    I have trouble staying asleep through the night.
___  10.  I am restless and jumpy a lot.
___  11.  My mind isn’t as clear as it used to be.
___  12.  I have less energy than usual; I tire easily or for no reason.
___  13.  I have lost a lot of my motivation.
___  14.  I have been very irritable lately.
___  15.  Morning is the worst part of the day.
___  16.  I find myself introspecting a lot.
___  17.  I don’t like the way I am or I don’t like who I am.
___  18.  I think about the past a lot.
___  19.  I have more physical problems (headaches, upset stomach, constipation,
               rapid heartbeat, etc.) than I did a year ago.
___  20.  People have noticed that I don’t do my job as well as I used to.
___  21.  I have recently been thinking that life is not worth living.
___  22.  I think other people would be better off if I were dead.

If you placed a check mark in front of at least seven statements OR if you placed a check mark in front of statement number 1, number 2, or number 3 and these symptoms have persisted for at least two weeks, there is a strong possibility that you may be experiencing serious depression. Your condition is treatable and can be alleviated by a professional psychiatrist. It is important , however that you seek professional assistance before your condition worsens.

Important: If you placed a check mark in front of statement number 21 or 22—regardless of your results on the other statements—you should seek the help of a professional psychiatrist or psychologist immediately.

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