Just snap out of it! The real facts about depression.

October 7, 2010 is National Depression Screening Day...Today's blog is dedicated to those suffering from this crippling disorder, and offered with hope for those affected and their loved-ones that they reach out for help.


If I had a nickel for every time I have heard "I am depressed but my __________(fill in the blank with "husband", "wife", "boyfriend", etc), says "just snap out of it!", my student loans would definitely be paid off by now.  The fact is, if you have never known someone with depression, or experienced it yourself, it IS hard to understand. Your loved-one may cry for "no apparent reason", have difficulty getting out of bed or showering, might have no desire to do things they once loved, may have difficulty sleeping or eating, and may express feelings of hopelessness or even thoughts about ending their life.

Today's blog could be filled with facts and strategies to explain to you what depression is. It is not. There is an informative booklet that can be found at the link below. Each person should click on this link to learn more. What today's edition of Counseling Corner is focused on is the simple fact that many, many people do not have a clear understanding that depression is a debilitating and potentially life-threatening disorder, and is very treatable. Depression is often the result of a chemical imbalance and/or faulty thought processes that have developed since early childhood. Most often, it is a combination of both of these factors that interact to create this often-debilitating condition.

When I talk about "Depression", it is very important to remember that this is a very general term, that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people.  Below is a link to a very informative informational booklet provided by the National Institute of Mental Health that discusses depression, the many form, as well as different treatments.  Today is National Depression Screening Day - Won't you make that call to get help today?


http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-index.shtml