DEPRESSION

UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION CAN HELP SOMEONE

What do people who are depressed experience:

- lack of interest

- lack of pleasure in daily activity.

- significant weight loss or gain

- insomnia (Unable to sleep) or want to sleep too much

- lack of energy

- can't concentrate

- feeling worthlessness

- excessive guilt or repeated thoughts of death or suicide

Why am I telling you this

Because depression is the most common mental disorder and we still don't know enough about it. 17 million people a year suffer from this in America. Depression carries the cost of relationships, family suffering, lost work productivity.

Because it is treatable and because in todays society with our high stress and overload, depression is more common.

What can you do to get out of the depressed cycle

Did you know that spending too much time talking about the problem can actually make it worse.

(It is good to share your problem and speak about it to someone - however dwelling on it and speaking about it all the time can be negative)

Did you know that when you seperate yourself or isolate yourself from others it can make depression worse.

The wrong kind of friends (Those who use negative words and see the world as as a negative place) can make it worse.

Tips to climb off the depression wagon

-  Distract yourself (prayer - meditation)

- Take small steps to begin solving the problem

- Let go of unattainable goals - (your expectations of them not being met can drag you down) put it on hold till you can plan better

- Develop multiple sources of self - esteem (read uplifting books, verses - it can be just one line, listen to a song)

- Excersie helps keep you psyche Fit - a walk in a green belt area - where there are trees or the ocean.

   Psychologists have found that excercise is the third most important thing you can do for depression. (For clinical depression as well)

- Remember that if you can get through today - you will be just fine

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SO if you recognise that a friend or work mate has any of these signs - some of these tips will help you to help them.