Depression: A Misunderstood Illness
Depression is an illness that I know all too well. I was diagnosed with severe clinical depression in 1990. It is a little understood illness. I have heard many people say, "You just need to shake it off". Depression is a real illness that causes not only mental symptoms but physical symptoms as well. You cannot shake it off any more than you can shake off diabetes or cancer. The debilitating symptoms of depression are so difficult to deal with that many people simply give up.
Suicide is prevalent in people who suffer with depression. A major contribution to increased mortality in depression will come from the risk of suicide in this patient group. Traditionally, lifetime risk (proportionate mortality: the percentage of the dead who died by suicide during follow-up) is reported between 15% and 19%. (Ebmeier 2006 153)
We all have depressed moods, feel blue, cry for no reason, etc. The only time we should worry about it is if it lasts for two weeks or longer. It will also be accompanied by the following symptoms:
sadness
loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
change in appetite or weight
difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
physical slowing or agitation
energy loss
feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt
difficulty thinking or concentrating
recurrent thoughts of death or suicide (Lewis 2003 28)
People with depression also have many physical symptoms. Their muscles are tired and sore from tension. Headaches are very common and sometimes do not respond to traditional headache remedies. Stomach problems are also very common in people with depression. The stomach acid increases with stress and causes ulcers and upset stomach. Energy is almost non-existent with depression. The whole body works overtime trying to cope and even the brain is exhausted. (Continued on Page 2).