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October is Depression Awareness Month. Take Advantage of the Many Resources Available to Get Your Life Back on Track.Are you having a difficult time getting motivated? Do you find that getting through the day and dealing with other people can be too much to handle sometimes? If you're not fully enjoying your life, being productive at work, or getting the most out of your relationships, you could be suffering from depression. People who feel stressed, tired, irritable, or blue don't always realize that these can be symptoms of depression. Even mild depression can make a major difference in the way you feel about yourself and others, and how well you are able to function throughout the day.
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be caused by family or work issues, stress, medical problems, medication side effects, or a chemical imbalance in the brain. Depression also occurs along with many other chronic illnesses and conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, eating disorders, and so on. An important first step is to talk to your doctor about your symptoms to see if there may be a medical condition that is causing or contributing to the difficulties you are experiencing.
How to Get Help
Depression can be effectively treated with both medication and psychotherapy. Your doctor may prescribe an antidepressant medication and recommend that you see a psychotherapist. You can also use tools to help yourself, including an online, interactive program such as Defeating Depression. The program can help you identify the cause of your depression and work on the symptoms that are most difficult for you. When choosing a psychotherapist, be sure to schedule an appointment and interview the therapist to see if he or she is a good fit for you. The Defeating Depression program teaches you how to find a good therapist (and how to spot a bad one!) and provides you with a list of questions to ask.
Put it in Perspective
If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from depression each day, you may wonder if you caused your depression or why you can't figure it out for yourself. You didn't cause your depression, but you can take steps to overcome it and start feeling better. Take advantage of the help that is available. Be proud of yourself for each step you take, and enjoy your progress along the way.
It's your life - you deserve to enjoy it!
by Dr. B
