|
Am I Just Down or Am I Depressed?
A Personal Reflection
Patricia L. Rahn
Omicron Chapter, New Jersey
Associate Professor
Department of Teacher Education
Philadelphia Biblical University
Langhorne, Pa 19047
prahn@pbu.edu
Definitions and Symptoms
Definition of Depression: Depression
is a medical disorder that day after day affects your thoughts,
feelings, physical health, and behavior.
Very often, a combination of
biological, psychological, and environmental factors are involved in the
development of depressive disorders. Clinical depression affects your
physical well-being, resulting in chronic fatigue, sleep problems, and
changes in appetite. It affects your mood, with feelings of sadness,
emptiness, hopelessness and dysphoria. It affects the way you think,
interfering with concentration and decision making. And, it affects your
behavior, with increased irritability and loss of temper, social
withdrawal, and a reduction in your desire to engage in pleasurable
activities. These symptoms will last continuously for at least two
weeks.
Depression may be caused by:
 |
family history or genetics
|
|
other general illnesses
|
|
certain medicines
|
|
drugs or alcohol
|
|
other psychiatric illnesses
|
|
some major life condition,
such as, extreme grief or stress
|
|
no discernible reason
|
My story
|
Life until 45
|
|
Life after 45
|
How did I recognize something
was wrong?
What other symptoms did I have
(in hindsight)?
Getting well - time and money
|
Today
|
The Lingering Symptoms of My
Depression
After 9 years, with my depression
in remission and still being treated by medication and counseling 4 to
6 times a year, I realize there are lingering symptoms:
Inability to concentrate or do an
activity for long periods of time
Inability to handle the content
of deeply emotional or violent books or films
Inability to handle extreme
tiredness without reverting to depressive symptoms, such as, crying.
Continued lack of energy - need
for a daily nap
There is Growth
My active depression has been in
remission for four years.
I am enjoying life more than I
ever did before.
I appreciate beauty in the small
things. I always have flowers on my desk.
I am getting better at getting
things done and keeping up with continuing tasks, such as, grading
papers.
I am taking more of an interest
in my surroundings at home and work. Disorganization in my environment
is reflective of disorganization in my life.
Sex with my husband has stopped
being a homework assignment and is again pleasurable!
|
What Have I Learned
One of the greatest comforts
throughout my experience was talking to people either in or
recovered from depression. It was so reassuring to know that I wasn=t
Acrazy@.
Depression afflicts 17 million
Americans a year. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from
periods of clinical depression.
If treated, 80% of people with
diagnosed clinical depression will recover.
A person in depression needs to
lessen responsibilities and ask for help.
Depression, not treated, gets
worse.
Depression is best treated by
talk therapy and medication, if needed. Appropriate therapy by a
psychiatrist and a counselor is expensive and time consuming.
Depression can take a long time
to treat.
Many people become depressed in
their mid-40's when their natural energy begins to lessen.
Druggists are not impressed by
prescriptions for anti-depressants.
Depression can put a major
strain on a family.
|
Are you depressed?
If you have at least five or more
of the following symptoms including the first two for at least two
weeks, you may have a depressive disorder.
|
loss of interest in things you
used to enjoy, including sex. **
|
|
feeling sad, blue, or down in
the dumps.**
|
|
feeling slowed down or restless
and unable to sit still.
|
|
feeling worthless or guilty.
|
|
changes in appetite or weight
loss or gain.
|
|
thoughts of death or suicide;
suicide attempts.
|
|
problems concentrating,
thinking, remembering, or making decisions.
|
|
trouble sleeping or sleeping
too much.
|
|
loss of energy or feeling tired
all of the time.
|
(A Depression is a Treatable
Illness: A Patient=s Guide@ USD of Heath and Human Development
Signs and Symptoms: Depression in Young
Children
|
They are noticeably sad.
|
|
Within limits they will discuss
their depression.
|
|
They refuse to discuss their
problems.
|
|
Their academic work suffers.
|
|
They become moody.
|
|
Their social life suffers.
|
|
They may change physical
habits.
|
|
They may have suicidal thoughts
or make a suicide attempt.
|
Signs and Symptoms: Depression in
Adolescents and Older Teens
|
A subjective feeling of sadness
or hopelessness.
|
|
Moodiness.
|
|
A bleak outlook for the future.
|
|
Disturbances of eating.
|
|
Sleep disturbances.
|
|
Changes in social life.
|
|
Chemical abuse.
|
|
Suicidal ideas.
|
Surviving the Darkness: Hope for
Those Dealing with Depression. Ketterman,
Grace. Nelson, 1993.
How Can You Help Students
|
Help them organize and
prioritize assignments.
|
|
Break reading and assignments
into small tasks. Develop checklists for the student.
|
|
Realize that the ability to
concentrate is greatly affected.
|
|
Whenever possible, modify
assignments that require shorter lengths of concentration.
|
|
Be patient. The student will
have down days. He or she cannot make themselves feel better.
|
|
Communicate with parents what
symptoms you observe. Hopefully, parents will communicate with you
about symptoms and medication.
|
|
