Do You Think You Have Depression?
Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I didn't do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice.
Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. In a given year, an estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and older (about 1 in 5 adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. According to the 1998 United States Census population estimate, this figure translates to 44.3 million people! In addition, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders, with major depression being the leading cause of disability.
It is estimated that depression alone will occur in approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5% of the United States population aged 18 or above. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely than a man (12% vs. 6.6%) to be affected by depression each year.
My symptoms of depression started with an occasional case of the blahs. I was able to cope with them for a long time. I thought that since this happens to a lot of people, that it would pass and I didn't need to worry. I didn't think about finding out why it was happening. Besides, after a few drinks I always felt much better. I later learned that depressive disorders commonly occur with substance abuse...
So what is the cause of all of this sadness in our society? Speaking from experience, I wasn't happy with my life and the direction it was taking me. I would look back at a past week and not be able to recall one thing that I enjoyed. It was a blur. Nor would I look forward to the coming weeks ahead. All I saw were potential stresses that were going to present themselves. But I didn't do anything about it. I accepted that this was life. Looking back I don't know how I could have ever believed this.
When we are suffering from depression, it seems that we lose our objectivity. Does thinking that we have nothing to look forward to sound rational to you? Where did my enjoyment in life disappear to? It was my perception of the world that had slowly changed and I was unable to see it because of the control that my depression had over me.
In the fast pace of today's world we often don't allow ourselves time to evaluate our lives and set goals to realize our ambitions. Whether you do or do not have depression, you're reading this article because you think something might be wrong with your life. Have you tried to identify the things you are unhappy with? The first step for me was to educate myself and find out what it was that I was dealing with. I started reading books. I consulted a psychologist to get some unbiased insight about myself.
Otherwise, how do we find solutions for problems that we don't yet understand? So let's get started. What's stopping you?
David Smith is the writer for My Depression Help, a resource site where he describes his feelings and experiences with depression and provides the depression help treatment he used for his recovery. Read more about me and my depression experiences.
Latest News
Depression linked to poorer diabetes control Reuters - NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Depression may make it harder for people with diabetes to keep their blood sugar levels in check, researchers have found. ... Psychotherapy may help with diabetes control Utah Offers Low-Cost A1C Testing |
Another Great Depression? Wadena Pioneer Journal, MN - The predictions are everywhere: the current economic crisis is the worst since the Great Depression or “we’re entering another Great Depression,” some of ... |
Fairfax Students Report Depression Mount Vernon Gazette, VA - By Julia O'Donoghue The percentage of Fairfax County Public School students reporting depression has fallen in the last seven years but still remains higher ... Column: Of Budgets and Buses |
Depression risk hits shares The Australian, Australia - THE risk of global "Great Depression" is emphasised by the largest fall in US consumer prices for 61 years. “The cost of living in America fell at its ... The US economy needs a daring stimulus plan |
Depression vs. Now: From a Man Who Knows MyFox Kansas City, MO - As the nation's economy worsens, a Kansas man who lived through the Great Depression compares now and then. LEE'S SUMMIT, MO. -- Between the job losses, ... |
Real cattle values cut in half since 1989: NFU Manitoba Co-operator, Canada - These half-price cattle are bankrupting family farmers across Canada and creating the most severe crisis in the sector since the Great Depression. ... Report says family cattle producers facing most severe crisis ... Industry changes bankrupting cattle farmers: report NFU Releases Report on Cattle Sector |
 Montgomery County Sentinel | Accused killer spoke of depression and debt Montgomery County Sentinel, MD - By Bailey Quinonez ROCKVILLE - It was a combination of gambling debt and depression that drove two "good friends" apart and left one of them dead, ... |
 Reuters | FOMC Minutes: Recession & Depression Simultaneously 24/7 Wall St., NY - If you don't think this is a recession or a depression just read through the full minutes. You will see a recession and you might get depression. ... The Economic Forecast? Cloudy with a Chance of Showers, at Least ... FOMC Minutes Raises the Specter for Further Economic Weakness |
Great Depression interpretation of Bible story will make Perham’s ... Perham Enterprise Bulletin, MN - Famine, locusts, economic distress, terrible weather and crop failures are common themes to the Joseph story and the Great Depression. ... |
 New York Times | So Mr. Skelos, What’s Your Plan? New York Times, United States - Such cuts are politically unpopular but absolutely essential, as the state struggles with the worst economic outlook since the Great Depression. ... Lawmakers, Paterson can't agree on cuts Time for Gov. David Paterson to get tough on budget We must set aside politics to produce real results |
Resources
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Mental Health Support. Treatment For Depression, Anxiety and Stress with
Zen.
Treatment and support for your Depression, anxiety, and stress. People suffering from Depression, anxiety and stress have been fed 4 big myths by experts, doctors and media. This Zen lesson gives you a new approach to improving your mental health.
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Conquering Stress
Conquer Stress, Depression & Anxiety Permanently, Without Drugs!
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WordMedicine.com.
How To Stop Depression And Anxiety In 6 Minutes Flat.
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Defeat Depression Today
Simple Four Steps to Empower You In All Areas of Your Life.
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Huband's Guide to Understanding Codependency and Depression
A guide for partners of codependents.
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End Depression Now
End Depression now, an effective and quick way to end Depression.
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Self Help Depression With Transformation Skills
Explains how Transformation Skills can be used to self help Depression and how you can learn transformation skill.
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Anxiety, Stress & Depression Products.
3 products and growing on Anxiety, Panic Attacks and Depression Relief from a Former Patient.
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Insomnia Remedies - Depression and sleep disorders in the elderly - Pernicious anemia sleep problems
Offering the complete health guide to self healing, HomeMadeMedicine.com shows you how to treat any disease, with herbs, herbal therapy, home remedies to better your sexual health. Womens health, man health, children health.
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