Depression is referred to as "clinical" (an illness) when it is out of proportion to the event that caused it, persists long after the event is over, has no apparent cause, or becomes severe enough to interfere with normal activities.

Statistics indicate that depression is the most frequently diagnosed mental illness, sometimes called "the common cold of mental health".  It has been estimated that 15% of the population will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lives.  Of this group, women will be diagnosed as having clinical depression twice as often as men.  Fortunately, depresison is also the most treatable mental illness.  With appropriate treatment, well over 70% can expect a full recovery while the rest will improve substatially.

WAYS TO RECOGNIZE DEPRESSION:

Being depressed is painful and seems as if it will never end.  A depressed person may describe his situation as "being in a black hole," "being at the bottom of a dark pit, " "having a glass wall around him/her", etc.  Depression is often experienced as a helplessness and hoplessness, worrying or desparing about the past, being unable to cope with the present, and fearing for the future.  Depression can interfere with making even the smallest decisions in every day life.  It can make life meaningless by taking away the joys of everyday living most of us take for granted.

WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS?:

The exact answer to this question is not known.  Most researchers feel a combinationi of factors -- biological, environmental and/or psychological -- are involved in depression.  In some cases, the tendency toward depression seems to be inherited.  At times a prolonged illness can bring on depression.  One's general attitude toward life can be a factor, with traits such as dependency, perfectionism, low self- esteem, problems expressing negative feelings, or inadequate coping skills tending to make a person "depression susceptible".

HELPING YOURSELF:

    *    Talk to a trusted friend
    *    Try to get some form of fairly strenuous physical exercise each day
    *    Break down larger goals into smaller, achievable tasks and tackle these on at a time
    *    Make a list of specific things you wish to get done
    *    Give yourself credit for accomplishing as much as you want to
    *    Get outside -- take a walk, go for a run, a bike, swim
    *    Make a point of scheduling some part of your day for self-fulfilling activities - conversations
          with friends, listening to music you like, reading a book for pleasure, or even soak in a warm tub
    *    If medications are prescribed, take them as indicated and report any side effects to your doctor.

THOMPSON NICOLA ASSESSMENT
AND RESOURCE SERVICE

#408 - 153 Seymour Street,
Kamloops, B.C. V2C-2C7

Phone: (250) 372-2262
Fax:     (250) 828-2263
Toll Free: 1-800-665-1095

e-mail: tnars@kamloops.net
 

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