NEWS RELEASE
Headline: Depression: It Doesn’t Have to be This Way
"Sandy” paused before the mirror, and started recounting the events that had brought her to this point. Another lay-off. She was pretty sure they would not be calling her back anytime soon. Passed over again for a different job, she later learned the company hired someone with lesser experience. That means she will be missing her mortgage payment this month. She picked up another part-time job, but that was not providing enough for her to get by with her two kids…. She became so lost in these thoughts that she forgot where she was. Time had stopped, while her mind continued revolving around the same circle: no job, no change, no hope.
Depression is a major medical illness, a burden much like any other illness, and an interruption in life- -it is a pause in life, but it doesn’t have to be an end. According to the Society for Neuroscience, this illness affects nearly 19 million Americans at any given time, and roughly 8 percent of adolescents, between 12 and 17 years of age, can be affected. Ten percent of Americans, over the age of 18, are expected to experience the symptoms of depression (“Depression: Making a Difference Today,” www.sfn.org), a number that could represent more than 4,200 residents of Crawford County.
These numbers seem so large perhaps since so many choose to live with the symptoms, while so few seek the help that is available. The track record for people who receive treatment is excellent. Unfortunately, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance reports that “nearly two out of three people suffering with depression do not actively seek nor receive proper treatment” (“Depression Statistics,” www.dbsalliance.org). This illness can be easily placed on a backburner to wait for more time, more money, less distraction, or a better day. However, with the illness of depression, that day might never come without some help. What makes depression different from the typical blues? “Unlike normal emotional experiences of sadness, loss, or passing mood states, major depression is persistent and can significantly interfere with an individual’s thoughts, behavior, mood, activity, and physical health” (“What Is Major Depression?” www.mcadamh.com).
The hardest part for Sandy was simply picking up the phone. She expected that she would have to explain what was happening to her, even though she couldn’t explain it to herself. She was on the verge of no longer trying to understand it, but she refused to accept that her life had to be this way. She remembered the words, “I will never surrender,” and she clung to those words as she dialed for help.
Although the causes for depression are not completely understood, and may not even be the same for everyone, this illness can be tackled and treated. When a person is unable to escape thoughts of sadness and hopelessness, the cause for these feelings can be found and treated, but this is likely to take some help from a trained professional, like a physician, a pastor, or a counselor. Any of these people will be able to help, or to refer the individual needing help, to another source if needed.
Today, scientists continue learning more about what may cause depression, and are finding new ways to address it. For the past fifty years, treatments focused on using drugs and therapy to restore the interactions of brain chemicals and receptors. New studies have uncovered a specific link between repeated stress and the constant activation of stress hormones in the brain, which can overwork the system for regulating stress in some people (“Depression,” www.sfn.org). As these scientists learn more about this relation, they will be able to reveal more effective methods for helping more people who suffer from depression.
Sandy was, now, in her second month of counseling, and she was beginning to sense that she could hope, again, even if only in small steps. It had been so long since she could hope for anything better that even the small rewards seemed huge. It seemed as if she had come through the worst of the storm. She was finally starting to look forward to tomorrow.
Problems, changes, illnesses: these natural events in life can demand a lot from any person. The misuse or abuse of drugs or alcohol can only complicate things even further. People who are depressed may be:
- persistently sad or irritable mood
- pronounced changes in sleep, appetite, and energy
- difficulty thinking, concentrating, and remembering
- physical slowing or agitation
- lack of interest in or pleasure from activities that were once enjoyed
- feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, and emptiness
- recurrent thoughts of death or suicide
- persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain (“What Are the Symptoms of Major Depression?” www.mcadamh.com).
These symptoms can serve readers to identify the warning signs in their own lives, or in the lives of friends and family. If any part of this list matches what is observed, call Community Counseling Services at (419) 562-2000 during normal business hours to schedule an appointment. If the caller is threatening to harm him or herself, the call will receive immediate attention. If the call is after hours, call Crawford County CONTACT at (419) 562-9010.
