THERAPIST THURSDAY: Could You Be Suffering from Depression?

It is estimated that up to 15% of the adult population will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. Childhood and teen depression have increased, as has suicide rates amongst this population. Between 4-8% of adolescents currently experience depression, and it is estimated that as many as 25% will experience depression by the time they reach the end of adolescence.

Depression is an often misunderstood condition. People often believe that the afflicted person should be able to just “snap out of it”. Or if the individual will just “think positively”, their issues will go away. But the truth is, depression is a medical condition just like heart disease or diabetes. It is not something a person can just will away and it is something that can be just as debilitating as any other medical condition. Could you or someone you love be suffering from depression?

Depression has many symptoms. The general population is familiar with the more well-known ones such as sadness, excessive sleeping, or loss of interest in things, but there are other symptoms of depression that may be less well known. For example, issues like increased anxiety, excessive or inappropriate guilt, mood swings, and even anger can all be signs that an individual may be experiencing depression.

Often people with depression exhibit behavior such as excessive crying, agitation or angry outbursts, irritability, restlessness and inability to sleep, or social isolation. A person can have excessive hunger and weight gain, or loss of appetite and weight loss. There usually is a lack of concentration, slowness in activity, and an increase in negative thoughts.

Because symptoms of depression can vary so much and often contradict each other from person to person (one person having increased appetite and another having decreased appetite; one person sleeping too much and another having difficulty sleeping), we often are confused about what depression really looks like. One person may display a general apathy for people and situations, while another person may be angry and irritated by seemingly every person and situation. It is for this reason that if you suspect depression in yourself or a loved one, it is highly advisable that you seek medical advice to obtain an accurate diagnosis. This can be done by visiting your general practice doctor or seeking the assistance of a licensed mental health professional.

If you or someone you love experiences a change in behavior or mood that seems to linger, are excessive, or interfere with daily functioning, this is an indication that there may be depression occurring. Thoughts of helplessness or worthlessness, feeling a lack of hope, being fatigued, experiencing weight changes, are all symptoms of depression.

Depression needs to be differentiated from feelings of sadness we all experience and also from grief. If a person has experienced a loss in their life, there is a natural grieving process they must go through. And, lets face it, we all feel sad from time to time. Depression is different from this general sense of the blues because it is more severe, seems not to go away, or interferes with functioning.

When children and teens experience depression, there is often anger or severe mood swings presented as one of the symptoms. Also, there may be increased isolation, loss of interest in activities, the changes in appetite, weight, or sleep patterns discussed above. Unfortunately, suicide attempts and completed suicides are both on the rise with the minor population. We are seeing younger and younger children attempting suicide.

Often individuals who are experiencing depression have thoughts of suicide, sometimes obsessive thoughts, sometimes passing thoughts of not wanting to be here, feeling like no one would care if they were dead, or more specific thoughts of self harm. Anyone who expresses any of these thoughts or feelings should be immediately seen by a mental health or healthcare professional to assess the risk to the safety of that individual. If you are experiencing such thoughts, I urge you to seek assistance right away. If there is immediate danger, it is advised to call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room or psychiatric hospital and get a proper assessment.

There are many resources available to those experiencing depression. There are multiple local and national hotlines available 24 hours a day that are free of cost. A hotline provides the ability to get information about depression, talk to someone who understands what you are going through, receive help confidentially and anonymously, obtain resources and referrals such as a therapist or psychiatrist, learn how to help someone who may be experiencing depression, and learn how depression is treated. The National Hopeline Network can be reached at 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433). The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). The National Youth Crisis Hotline can be reached at 1-800-448-4663.

While depression can be debilitating and can seem very overwhelming and insurmountable, the truth is that it is a very treatable condition. With the right treatment plan in place, a person is often able to return to their previous level of functioning. With all that we know about this condition and all of the resources available for assistance, it is unnecessary for anyone to suffer in silence. There is no shame in experiencing depression; as referenced above, a large percentage of the population has or will experience it. Working with a trained professional can make such a difference and can often help a person reduce their symptoms in a very short period of time. As we come to understand that brain more accurately, the medications available to treat depression have greatly improved. Medication is not always necessary, often a treatment plan of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is all that is necessary to help the person return to previous functioning. The important thing is to seek help once you realize there is an issue. I urge all of you out there to reach out to your loved ones. If you are concerned with behavior changes, do not ignore this, talk with them, see if you can help them access the services available that can make all of the difference!

Rochelle Whitson is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Temecula, CA. She is also author of the blog www.meetme4therapy.com.

Ms. Whitson can be reached at meetme4therapy@gmail.com ***

***If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency or thoughts of self harm, please call 911 or go to your closest emergency room for an assessment, rather than reaching out through email.***