While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, depression can have enormous depth and staying power. Being depressed has nothing to do with personal weakness; it’s about neural pathways, chemistry, and more.
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Need to know more about how Depression will affect you or someone you care for? Learn all the basics of Depression and what it does:
Features on Depression
Living Forward With Depression
by Harvard Medical School
Asking for help may seem like the hardest task in the world, especially if you feel exhausted and hopeless. Yet that's just what you need to do if you have symptoms of depression or mania. Even if your symptoms are more vague or you don't know exactly what the problem is, you may still benefit from a doctor's opinion and evaluation. If you feel lost or stuck, or are concerned about a feeling, thought, behavior, or situation, seek help.
The first step is often the hardest. Talk with your doctor about your problems, or get a referral to a mental health professional from your doctor, a friend, or one of the organizations listed in this report (see "Resources"). If you are in a crisis or feel suicidal, immediately call 1-800-SUICIDE for advice or go to your local emergency room.
Getting help for depression
Regular plans with friends and family members — to see a movie or take a walk — can keep you from feeling isolated.
Together, you and your doctor or therapist can decide on a treatment plan to alleviate your distress. In addition, the following practical suggestions may help you navigate safely through this difficult time:
Like a pebble thrown into a pond, depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder create ripples that spread far from their immediate point of impact. Those closest to people who have these illnesses often suffer alongside them. It's upsetting to see a loved one so distressed, and it's exhausting and often frustrating to deal with the inevitable fallout. But you can do a lot to help a loved one and yourself handle this difficult period.
Encourage him or her to get treatment and stick with it. Remind the person about taking medication or keeping therapy appointments. Don't ignore comments about suicide. If you believe your loved one is suicidal, call his or her doctor or therapist. If neither is available, call a local crisis center or emergency room.
Care for yourself. Being a caretaker is a difficult job. You may want to seek individual or group therapy. Numerous mental health organizations sponsor such groups (see "Resources") and can also provide you with information on the illness and the latest treatments.
Offer emotional support. Your patience and love can make a huge difference. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. Try not to brush off or judge the other person's feelings, but do offer hope. Suggest activities that you can do together, and keep in mind that it takes time to get better. Remind yourself that a disease is causing your loved one to act differently or perhaps be difficult. Do not blame him or her, just like you wouldn't if it were chronic physical pain that caused the person to change in certain ways.
Try to prevent reckless acts during manic episodes. It's all too common for a person to make poor decisions when manic, so it's a good idea to try to prevent this problem by limiting access to cars, credit cards, and bank accounts. Watch for signs that a manic episode is emerging (see "What are your symptoms?"). Disruption of sleep patterns can trigger an episode, so support your loved one in keeping a regular sleep schedule. Consistent patterns for other activities such as eating, exercising, and socializing may also help.
Source: from Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2008 Harvard University. All rights reserved. Harvard Medical School does not endorse products. Used with permission of StayWell.Terms of UseMedical Disclaimer
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