Under the Weather Emotionally?

So many people, including the younger generation suffer from some type of mental illness or depression. Being clinically depressed is not a temporary case of the blues. It is something much more serious if left untreated. Episodes of depression can last a few hours, a few weeks or even longer like a few months.

A person is considered clinically depressed if they exhibit at least five of these symptoms over a period of at least two weeks.
1. depressed mood
2. change in appetite or weight
3. loss of interest in things that were once fun
4. change in sleeping patterns
5. decreased sex drive
6. moving at an unusual pace or speaking at a faster pace or slower pace
7. fatigue or loss of energy
8. feelings of worthlessness or guilt
9. unable to concentrate
10. thoughts of death or suicide
11. anxiety
12. isolation
13. drug or alcohol abuse
14. history of physical or emotional illness

In some cases, depression that is left untreated can lead to suicide. One way to prevent suicide is to recognize the signs early and get treatment for the issues. The highest rate of suicide is in the age range of 45-54 and males are more likely than females to commit suicide. Women attempt suicide twice as much as men but men succeed more often. Women attempt suicide more often than men possibly because of mood disorders. Women have an elevated rate of mood disorders and are usually more affected by seasonal affective disorder than men.

Women suffer depression twice as much as men do. The highest rate of suicide is due to bipolar disorder and schizophrenia as well as clinical depression. The risk for suicide is highest among the schizophrenic population.

Only one out of every three people dealing with depression will get help. You cannot force someone to get help, you can only encourage it. Some warning signs that should be watched are:

low moods
pessimism
hopelessness
desperation
anxiety
withdrawal
addictive behaviors
giving away their stuff
buying a gun or many drugs
rage and anger

If you have a loved one that exhibits these warning signs, it is time to get them help. Take the issue seriously and be willing to listen. Help your loved one to want to seek professional help. In a serious situation where your loved one is threatening suicide or looks as if they are about to do something serious, taking him/her to the ER or a psychiatric ward is your best bet. Do not leave that person alone for a minute.

Depression is not something you can just snap out of in an instant. It is a serious health problem. Depression is caused by brain chemicals that are imbalanced and can also be attributed to other factors as well. Depression needs to be treated and cannot be ignored.

Every 16 minutes, someone in the United States takes their life. That means that every 17 minutes, loved one are left with unanswered questions, guilt, confusion, sadness and darkness.

I am a survivor of suicide. My father killed himself when I was 18 years old, 15 years ago. Life doesn't just go on like one might believe. When he took his life, he took a big part of mine as well. Fifteen years later, and I am still left with some confusion and darkness. It took me about five years to start living life again like it should be lived. His death will always be a part of my life. Suicide prevention will always be a cause that I will fight for. If I can help one person to not have to go through what I have in my life, then my purpose here on Earth has been answered.

Explaining to my children why my father is not here is a tough one. Lying is not the answer though. My oldest child is almost eleven. She knows the truth. My other three children are too young at this point. But when the time is right, they will know the truth as well. Knowing the truth can help to save their lives if they ever feel depressed or that something just isn't right in their brain. I believe in age appropriate truth and it has worked well for my family.

November 17, 2007 is the 9th annual National Survivors of Suicide Day in the United States. I will be at a local event that day supporting others that know how I feel. Support is a key to healing. You cannot heal properly without support of others that have lived through it. To find out more information, please check out www.afsp.org.