MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024 - HELPING OTHERS WITH DEPRESSION

 MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024 - HELPING OTHERS WITH DEPRESSION

“Depression” - that word sounds so ominous. If a friend or spouse says, “I’ve been diagnosed with depression,” does that make it so you don’t want to be around them? Will they be sad most of the time? Will they be moody and grouchy?   (Partially taken from: https://www.everydayhealth.com/depression-pictures/ways-to-help-loved-one-with-depression.aspx) 

 

It can be easy to feel overwhelmed, frustrated, and helpless when someone you love has Depression — or when you suspect they might but don’t know how to tell for sure.

I’m never quite sure if I’m lazy, frustrated, upset, or (oh no) depressed. I haven’t really cleaned my apartment in months. I was to dog sit last week at my apartment and turned it down as my apartment is not dog-proof or dog-safe!!! I have two bookcases - and only one has a few books. The one by my window has 70 to 100 Music CDs. I have a three-disk changer with two speakers on the bookcase. I have fingernail polish, nail files, cotton balls, and who knows what else on the bottom shelf. I imagine a dog unfamiliar with me or my apartment having a great play day with that shelf. The other bookcase has some jigsaw puzzles, a few books, sheet music, a kite book (so I can build my own kite “someday”), a box with all kinds of interesting stuff (including) an audio CD of The Hobbit, a compass, a DVD of Peabody and Sherman, decks of cards, and more. (I’m scared to look - who knows what else might be there!!  <grin>).

I use bags for the grocery store. They are at my feet under my desk. One story (Aldi) requires people to bring their own bags. I just don’t know what to do with many things. My closet is complete (I found a pair of shoes I had forgotten). I have a million (okay,m that’s not true)  t-shirts - many of which have meaning (like Sleeping Giant, Quinnipiac Pep Band, Granny Basketball, Green Bay Packers, a Rocky and Bullwinkle shirt, and more.  

My bedroom has more stuff - including a large open shelf case that I rescued from the dumpster and tried to fix up.  

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Well, back to the depression talk:

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The article said it’s essential to know the differences between feeling down in the dumps and having a more serious mental health problem that needs treatment.

Feeling down is typically a temporary setback triggered by an external event, such as an argument with a family member or a setback at work. It doesn’t interfere with day-to-day functioning for an extended period of time, and somebody feeling this way will usually continue to engage in some activities they enjoy, she says, with resolution after a few days or a week at most.

I’ve been down in the dumps. In my academic days, I got a review from a journal or conference that my paper wasn’t accepted. (Darn, drat it). I’ll have a pity party, and in a few days, I’ll be okay.  

As I came out from my aorta surgery, I was worthless; I was nothing - maybe less than nothing. I could barely walk - my life was over.  

I threatened suicide during my recovery - and when my wife started divorce proceedings against me. She wanted the house, the car, and our investments (even though I earned them from my teaching). As somebody said, “She took me to the cleaners.”  

Four days in a mental facility helped change that. I got on anti-depressants, I got my attitude out of the trash. Let her have the things and the money. I didn’t need it; I could live on my own.

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Back to the article

Surprising Facts About Major Depressive Disorder

Major Depression is common around the globe, but there are still misunderstandings surrounding the diagnosis.

In contrast, clinical Depression typically involves symptoms like withdrawing from friends and losing interest in activities one used to enjoy — and these symptoms persist for a much more extended period, Thames says. For someone to be diagnosed with clinical Depression, the symptoms must last at least two weeks. According to the American Psychiatric Association, they must demonstrate a change in one’s previous level of functioning.

People with Depression also tend to have a very different mindset from people who are feeling down. “A person feeling down usually has hope that things will change for the better,” Thames says. “The person with depression feels that their situation is hopeless and will not change.”

Signs and symptoms of Depression to look out for include the following, according to the Mayo Clinic:

• Expressing feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness

• Feeling irritable, frustrated, or angry over small things

• Sleeping much more or less than normal

• Having appetite changes— eating more or less than usual and gaining or losing weight.

• Having anxiety, restlessness, or agitation

• Having unexplained physical problems, like back pain or headaches

• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, remembering things, and making decisions

• Expressing feelings of guilt or worthlessness or ruminating on past failures

• Mentioning death or suicidal thoughts.

This topic has been extended for over a day, so I’ll continue it tomorrow.

Now, five years (and a lot of thought and prayers later), I understand that LOVE WINS and LOVE TRANSFORMS. This life is NOT the end (or, as I know it.  

More tomorrow!!

Karen Anne White, ©, March 18, 2024