​Depression
"Depression hurts! It is the "Black Dog" of the night that robs you of joy, the unquiet mind that keeps you awake. It's a noonday demon that only you can see, the darkness visible only to you"
Depression can be debilitating, impacting all aspects of our lives, leaving an individual with feelings of despair, hopelessness, and emptiness, often accompanied by other emotions such as anger, irritability, anxiousness and fear.
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Depression is not a sign of weakness, it is a cry for help, an illness that requires professional assistance and treatment. Left unrecognized and untreated robs an individual of a healthy, fulfilling and meaningful life, severely impacting normal daily functioning.
Having an off-day, feeling low or sad after a loss or disappointment are normal emotions, but we need to able to recognize and distinguish when our emotions fall outside the normal spectrum range in such a way that it hampers and impacts our normal daily functioning. There are various factors that may contribute to the onset of depression and they can be genetic, biological, psychological, social or even environmental. It is therefore of utmost importance to seek professional help when 5 or more of the following symptoms are recognized with one symptom of the five being either number 1 or 2 (in some cases both can be present), and these symptoms are experienced rather consistently for at least 14 days.
Symptoms of Depression:
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Depressed mood
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Loss of interest and pleasure in life
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Feelings of guilt and thoughts of worthlessness;
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Changes in energy levels - lethargic, fatigued, exhausted;
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Impaired concentration and attention;
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Changes in appetite, resulting in significant weight loss or gain;
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Psychomotor disturbances;
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Suicidal thoughts
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Sleep disturbances - either lack of sleep or more sleep than usual