I got the following list off the Mayo Clinic website. If you see these symptoms in yourself or a loved one, please contact a medical professional so you can get the help you deserve:
Depression symptoms include:
- Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
- Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
- Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
- Reduced sex drive
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Changes in appetite — depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain
- Agitation or restlessness — for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
- Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
- Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
- Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy — even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
- Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
- Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
- Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
- Crying spells for no apparent reason
- Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches
6 comments:
Thank you for sharing. A friend of mine recently expressed concern that I may be experiencing some form of depression. Honestly, it hadn't even occurred to me before. Now I don't really know.
Holly Ann, if you think your friend could be right at all, make an appointment with your doctor. Your friend is telling you that because he/ she cares about you. Depression is not a sign of weakness or that something is wrong with you. It's just a signal from your body that you may need to find a balance in your life. I encourage you to talk to a medical professional.
Hi Karen,
Sorry to hear that you're having a difficult time. Is there someone you can talk to or write to? I'm here if you need to vent. I can understand feeling "stuck". Perhaps writing about it might ease the discomfort. Again, this is me just guessing at what might help. Maybe a therapist if that's in the scheme of things? I know it doesn't go away with a snap of your fingers, but still, I hope it changes and that you begin to feel more at ease.
Thanks for your suggestions, Anne. Believe it or not, this is my way of blowing off steam that actually works for me. I mention that I am frustrated and angry, and even depressed, but so far I am doing pretty good at leaving it there. Knowing people are out there listening (reading) that care, like you, is helpful. My husband and mom are keeping close eye on me, too.
I WILL be seeing a counselor, as soon as I find out if I will be covered under state insurance, if this physical pain continues to keep me on the sidelines of life. The thing that sucks about all of this is that I wanted to become a teacher so I would have a career in which our family had health insurance. This was REALLY bad timing! We've pretty much run through our savings, paying for the doctor's appointments as it is. Grrrr...
I probably need to post the good times and the positive parts more often. They seem so minor, though, and honestly it's easier to complain than it is to praise. I'm sure to do the Tuesday "Tell a Good Thing" meme to keep on track there.
Thanks again for being there. I am truly blessed to have met you and have you "on my side."
Karen,
I'm so sorry your having a such a rough time. Reading your list was interesting.
I hope you are able to talk to someone soon. My friend was telling me about her depression. She said she had no idea how bad she was until she was able to get the help she needed. Then, looking back, she saw just how serious it was. But, everyone's different.
I hope you know your in my thoughts and prayers. I've appreciated our little blog friendship and will be checking back soon.
Thanks for the thoughts and prayers GGM. I'm okay, really. I can't tell you how frustrating it is to watch life from the perspective I have now. I think it may have been you that reminded me of how hard bed rest was when I was pregnant. At least then I knew when it would be over and that there would be a good outcome at the end. Right now it just seems never ending. I appreciate your blog friendship, too!
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