Am I Depressed?
Everyone gets sad or loses interest in things
from time to time. With clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder and depression), these feelings can last
for weeks, months and even years. It's a medical condition that, like other diseases, can be treated. The key is seeking help.
Two-thirds of people with depression
don't get treated because they don't realize it is an illness that usually won't go away on its own. Some feel ashamed that
they can't just "snap out of it." Others worry that family, friends and coworkers would treat them differently if they knew.
What are the Symptoms?
Depression
can include a wide range of emotional and physical symptoms that vary from person to person. Doctors think that many different
factors can trigger depression, from external events to physical changes in the body. These factors make it challenging to
recognize the symptoms in yourself or a loved one and to seek help.
What should I do?
If
you think that you or someone you know might be experiencing depression, learn as much as you can about the condition. Understanding
what depression is — and isn't — is the first step to finding relief. At A Safe Place to Heal you can talk about
your feelings and learn how to live a life free from the chains of depression. One of the most effective ways to change how
you feel is to change how you think. With the help of therapy, you can be on the road to happiness.
If life is consistently getting you down and your lows are making it hard to function,
you may be depressed. Find out whether your slump is critical with the Depression Test. This test is designed to determine
whether you presently have, or are at risk for developing a depressive disorder. Go here to take the test.
