Depression. It's Not Just About Being Sad

An article was posted in a reputable newspaper recently that the reason Depression was so over-diagnosed is that people could not tell the difference between feeling sad and being depressed. The article inferred that doctors and psychiatrists were prescribing mood altering drugs to patients who were simply just sad.

As I was reading the article it occurred to me that these experts should know the difference between a sad person and a depressed person shouldn't they? Had the writer really researched with doctors or just spoken to a few people who felt they had been misdiagnosed? I'm no medical expert but I do know that sadness is not a mental illness.

Sadness is a feeling, just like feeling happy or anxious or angry, it is transient and these feelings can change within hours or minutes depending on the day a person is experiencing. Sadness can mean a few tears, feeling sluggish for a while and generally not wanting to talk. There is nothing wrong with feeling sad occasionally but when a person is depressed it is very different.

Depression is an illness that does not discriminate. Comments such as, "You have everything, how can you be depressed?" are common. Material things; a loving family, being beautiful, having a great job, all these things do not guarantee a person will not develop a depressive illness at some stage of their lives. Rich or poor, male or female, young or old, it doesn't matter.

The best way to know you may be suffering from depression and are not just sad is to have a medical diagnosis and get the right treatment for the depression. There are many myths surrounding this disease and also many 'jokes' and social stigma that surround it, so the importance of a correct diagnosis is crucial. It is also important to understand the not everyone's depression is the same and not everyone suffers the same symptoms.

The doom and gloom can feel relentless, you may feel your life will never be happy again but with the right diagnosis; good professional help, and along with some lifestyle changes, depression can be managed. You are not alone in your depression.

Before consulting a practitioner, either a GP or therapist, here is a list of symptoms you may be suffering -

• Feeling sad all or most of the day
• Overwhelming despair and emptiness
• Crying easily and sometimes for no reason
• Tears not helping, sometimes making you feel worse
• Feeling angry all the time
• Having bad thoughts and/or constant feelings of doom
• Feeling of failure and that your life has been one constant failure
• Feeling lonely and alone even when in a crowd of people
• Not wanting to be alone but don't feel better when with someone else
• Needing illegal substances just to get through the day
• Loss of appetite or emotionally eating
• Difficulties doing and/or going to work
• Feelings of apathy and lifelessness
• Suicidal thoughts
• Changes in sleep patterns

Some depressive illnesses do need medications to manage the symptoms and give a better quality of life. Many people resist taking these medications as there are social stigmas surrounding anti-depressants, however, taken correctly and under medical supervision, depressive symptoms can be managed with the right medication.

Along with anti-depressants there are other lifestyle changes that will help alleviate feelings of doom and gloom.

EXERCISE

A short daily walk or joining a local gym is a great start. Exercise is a mood lifter, and depending on the severity and length you've been depressed, it may only take a few weeks to start feeling better.

SLEEP

If your sleep pattern has been disrupted, either sleeping too much or too little, it is important to set a more 'normal' sleep pattern as quickly as possible. Try to go to bed at the same time every night and aim for an average of 8 hours sleep.

SUBSTANCE ABUSE

If you have been abusing alcohol or drugs its imperative that this becomes a thing of the past. As you begin to feel better the need to abuse your body will lessen and control over your depressive moods is better managed.

EATING WELL

Certain foods can affect moods and it's important to work out whether you are using food to fuel your depression, as is the case if you have eating disorders or obesity issues. Emotional eating can be very detrimental to depressive illnesses so it may be necessary to consult a nutritionist to discuss why and how you are eating.

Healthy, fresh food combined with regular exercise has been proven to lift moods and discussing these benefits with your health professional will assist in your recovery.

There have been some very publicised suicides by teenagers recently played out on Youtube and in the media. These teens were bullied and harassed not only in person but also by abusive comments on their Youtube sites.

It is important for everyone to note that low self esteem plays a huge part in a teenager's life and bullies will play on this low self esteem to achieve some perverted sense of pleasure, and to what end? To see their victim take their own life?

When someone is crying out for help, whether by using the internet or some other means, it is our job to guide and help them to receive the right treatment, not to bully them with senseless and cruel words.

These teens had not committed heinous crimes against humanity, nor had they caused any harm to anyone in particular. These young adults were just trying to make sense of their lot in life, trying to find their feet, they did not need bullying and torment.

If you are having suicidal thoughts seek professional help. There is a hope, there is always hope. Links are provided in this hub but it is best to look for help in your local area first.

Depression is an illness but it is an illness that can be cured. Use your inner strength to guide you through your darkest moments and remember, it's ok to be sad, just not all the time.

Copyright

(c) Copyright to this article on Hubpages is owned by MPG Narratives and may not be copied without express permission from the writer. Payment for use of any article written by MPG Narratives is by negotiation.