I’m really glad that you are reading this article and hope the information will help you.
Are you able to distinguish between sadness and depression? I am sure that you are able to notice the difference in the two. There are great numbers of people who do not know the difference and are seeking to deal with their sadness in the way you would deal with depression.
Sadness is a natural reaction to any painful experiences whether in the past or the present and will be experienced by everyone at sometime in their lives. While it is normal for people to experience sadness from time to time in their lives, depression on the other hand can be more extreme and debilitating. It is recognized as being a clinical illness and carries with it a lot more symptoms than sadness, if not recognized and treated; it can lead to serious consequences and even death.
People who experience sadness or unhappiness can normally tell you what is causing the feelings. They are able to logically and rationally tell you about the experiences and feelings they are having in response to some event whether physical, emotional or spiritual, they are also aware of the fact that their melancholic feelings will, with time begin to heal. People who suffer with depression can’t necessarily tell you the exact cause of their melancholic feelings. A person suffering from depression will usually get worse over time, and don’t normally see any light at the end of the tunnel.
Depression can last for weeks, months or even years. And is not something you just “snap-out” of as much as they would like to. It just isn’t possible. The feelings experienced are just too intense and overwhelming, no-one wants to be contemplating taking their own life.
If a person has a loss of interest in life, getting up in the morning, going to work, socializing as well as a lack of self esteem for more than about two or three weeks, (in other words for a prolonged period of time) as well as experiencing mood swings or being out of character, it would be in order for that person to go and see a doctor.
Some of the most common symptoms of depression are:
- Tiredness/lethargy or the inability to sleep (insomnia)
- Loss of interest in social activities
- Lack of self worth or inappropriate guilty feelings
- Lack of focus and follow through
- Significant weight changes
- Hopelessness and discouragement
- Contemplating death and /or suicide
If you feel you have any of the mentioned symptoms, a visit to your doctor wouldn’t do any harm. There are also some screening tests available on the Internet; you can just Google “depression screening tests” that should give you quite a large list of sites that will have these tests available for you.
It is important to take care of yourself. You are a special person even if you think you are not; there is no one else remotely like you, with your own skills, abilities, and talents. You cannot be replaced, you have important and life impacting things to do with your life. Remember the only person you can control is you, so, take care of yourself first, think positively, surround yourself with happy positive people, eat right, sleep well and exercise and take “Me-Time” to reflect on your progress and growth. Everyone and everything else is out of your control. Start doing things now that make you feel good, happy and excited - you “do know what they are”!
You can also visit The South African Depression and Anxiety Group on-line here.
Suicide HOTLINE: 0800 567 567
And always remember
No matter what age you are, or what your circumstances might be, you are special, and you still have something unique to offer. YOUR LIFE, because of who you are, has meaning.
