Moderately Depressed?

*by MystiqueAsh*

She remembers the feeling of being in bliss

And having the peace of mind and soul..

PRICELESS!!

Yet..More than often, DEPRESSION sets in,

Sometimes it caused her to be so out of tune..

She knows,

Staying depressed for too long eats her up..

Starts to holler at herself:

Think of happy thoughts!

Think of cheerful moments!

Think of all the love she received from God, family and friends!

Think of the many smiles and laughter shared between them all!

A voice says: C’mon! You can do it!

Another says: Forget it, no matter what you do, it’s USELESS!

NO! Ain’t giving up!!

She held her head high and tells herself,

She would be HAPPY again!

Information below are snippets/ articles available from:

http://www.helpguide.org ~ http://www.psychologyinfo.com ~ http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com ~ http://www.iamindepression.com

Life is full of emotional ups and downs. But when the "down" times are long lasting or interfere with an individual's ability to function, that person may be suffering from a common, but serious psychological problem – depression. Stress can be a factor to depression but a person may be depressed even without a stressful lifestyle.

Depression is a major risk factor for suicide. Thoughts of death or suicide are a serious symptom of depression, so take any suicidal talk or behavior seriously. It's not just a warning sign that the person is thinking about suicide: it's a cry for help.

Depression in men

Depressed men tend to complain about fatigue, irritability, sleep problems, and loss of interest in work and hobbies. Other signs and symptoms of depression in men include anger, aggression, violence, reckless behavior, and substance abuse. Even though depression rates for women are twice as high as those in men, men are a higher suicide risk, especially older men.

Depression in women

Rates of depression in women are twice as high as they are in men. This is due in part to hormonal factors, particularly when it comes to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), postpartum depression, and perimenopausal depression. It affects their physical well-being (gaining / losing weight), chronic fatigue, sleep problems, and changes in appetite. It affects the way they think, interfering with concentration and decision making. Therefore, their behaviour is affected, with increased irritability and loss of temper, social withdrawal, and a reduction in their desire to engage in pleasurable activities.

Helping Yourself

Depressive disorders make you feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up.

• Do not set difficult goals for yourself, or take on additional responsibility.
• Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can as you can.
• Do not expect too much from yourself too soon, as this will only increase your feelings of failure.
• Try to be with other people; it is usually better than being alone.
• Force yourself to participate in activities that may make you feel better.
• Try engaging in mild exercise, going to a movie, a ball-game, or participating in religious or social activities.
• Don't overdo it or get upset if your mood is not greatly improved right away. Feeling better takes time.
• Do not make major life decisions, such as changing jobs, getting married or divorced, without consulting others who know you well and who have a more objective view of your situation. In any case, it is advisable to postpone important decisions until your depression has lifted.
• Do not expect to snap out of your depression. People rarely do. Help yourself as much as you can, and do not blame yourself for not being up to par.
• Remember, do not accept your negative thinking. It is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
• Get help from a professional. No matter how much you want to beat it yourself, a psychologist can help you recover faster.