Depression can begin, not necessarily by feeling depressed, but by “loss of interest or pleasure”. For this reason Depression can be very sneaky. A person might not feel depressed but doesn’t feel the same intensity of pleasure or can’t seem to focus “on the ball” while playing golf.They have a boat but have lost interest in using it. Other symptoms of Depression may include a sudden loss or increase in weight, difficulty sleeping or insomnia, waking up earlier than expected, psychomotor agitation or retardation, i.e. delayed speech, rapid heartbeat, irritability or restlessness. feelings of worthlessness, over powering feelings of guilt as in “I deserve to be punished”, difficulties concentrating or focusing and thoughts of “I wish I could just die and get it over with!”
One significant point with the above is that many symptoms of depression are part of the human condition. A person might just have a bad day and be fine the next day. What separates the above normal human condition from being depressed is the level of impairment in one’s daily functioning, and the duration of symptoms. If a person experiences either depressed mood or loss of interest with most of the above symptoms for a period of two weeks that person could possibly meet the clinical criteria for Major Depression.
Depression can be a paralyzing debilitating illness. Unfortunately, many wait until the symptoms become problematic before they reach out for help. For example, a 70 year old who just retired doesn’t understand why his golf game is going downhill. There may be no obvious stressors but when a person retires there is a let down effect. Every morning for 40 years this person has gotten up 5-6 days per week, gone to work and had a specific identity and purpose. Now in retirement the person is faced with a body and a brain that had an automatic habit of getting up and going to work. The person’s “Psyche” becomes somewhat in a flux until new habits, new identity and ” a sense of new purpose” are formed.
Take the same “newly retired” person who simply doesn’t know what to do. The person begins feeling sad, begins to not be able to focus as well, begins to have trouble sleeping, doesn’t get the pleasure out of things as he or she once did, begins to have feelings of hopelessness, lacks a sense of purpose and begins to avoid other. Soon, if it is not stopped, they could end up with a full blown episode of acute depression.
I have seen many cases this year of people suffering depression due to job loss. This is crippling because the longer a person is unemployed and the more depressive symptomology evolves, the more difficult it becomes to focus and feel good about oneself to continue looking for work. Unfortunately, many give up and sadly the suicide rate is on the rise! I also provide services for an outpatient psychiatric facility and have witnessed the aftermath of a senseless suicide. Suicide is not an option! Call for help!
Depression is a treatable illness! If you experience any of the above symptoms for over two weeks and you feel you aren’t functioning as well Call for Help Now!
The Mobile Crisis Line in Palm Beach County is 561 383 5777. Another very helpful number in Palm Beach County is the help line provided by Area Agency; call 211.
You can also call me at 561 309 4140. I have a confidential voice mail and will return your call within 3 hours between the hours of 8 am and 10 pm