In the past few decades it has become much more socially acceptable to be depressed.
Just as socially acceptable as Ritalin and ADD have become, the same goes for Prozac and Paxil and depression.
How do you tell if you are depressed? I mean, really depressed not just having a bad day?
And how do you know if you’re experiencing depression related to post-partum or the death of a loved one or even depression related to the loss of a job.
Did you know that women are twice as likely to suffer from depression as men, yet men are more likely to commit suicide than women are?
Some symptoms of depression that you should look for and be aware of are:
- Less interest in activities that used to interest you.
- Thoughts about death or suicide.
- Feelings of worthlessness and wondering if life is worth living.
- Eating more or eating less; weight gain or weight loss.
- Disturbances in sleeping patterns and sleeping much more often. Inability to get out of bed.
- Difficulty concentrating and remembering things you normally would not have had problems remembering.
If you think you may be suffering from depression after reading our list above you really should see your doctor. Upon meeting with you, your doctor will most likely perform a thorough physical exam on you complete with blood tests.
The exam and blood tests will ensure you are not suffering from anemia or an underactive thyroid or some other ailment that could be misconstrued for depression.
It is not uncommon for an underactive thyroid to be misdiagnosed for depression without the proper tests. Your doctor may also ask you a series of questions to determine the level of your depression as well as a mental health assessment.
The mental health assessment may be conducted by a mental health professional such as a psychologist and will determine the level and frequency of therapy you will undergo.
Overall it would be better to be safe than sorry. Depression can be a very serious mental illness and if you have been sad or depressed for longer than four consecutive days you should definitely visit your health professional.
If your doctor determines you are suffering from depression there are a multitude of medications ranging from Zoloft to Paxil and Prozac that they may prescribe to you as well as therapy sessions with a counselor.
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