Living with Depression

I would like to speak to readers who have either been diagnosed with a depressive disorder or simply suspect that they suffer from one. Depression is a disabling mental illness that affects every facet of life and health. It can interfere with your sleep, appetite, and sexual drive. It can contribute to pain, headaches, and gastrointestinal problems. It takes away your interest in activities you once enjoyed, saps your energy, and can leave you feeling worthless or guilt-ridden. Depression can destroy your marriage, wreak havoc on your career, and drive your friends away. It leaves you feeling as though you are on an island, alone in a sea of seemingly happy people. It can also result in suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Depression, if left untreated, can be a downward spiral, with its symptoms driving away needed supports when the sufferer needs them the most. Does any of this sound familiar?

If you have several of these symptoms, and they have persisted for at least two weeks, you may suffer from a clinical level of depression. It is crucial that you receive a proper diagnosis, as depressive symptoms can be explained by a variety of disorders, such as Major Depressive Disorder, Dysthymic Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, Substance-Induced Mood Disorder, Mood Disorder due to a General Medical Condition, Adjustment Disorder, and even Bereavement. Each diagnosis requires a specialized treatment approach.

For those of you who have lived with depression, you know that it is an illness just like diabetes or hypertension. You know that depression requires treatment (either medication, therapy, or both) and effort on your part to stay healthy. You may also know that despite your best efforts, a relapse into a depressive episode can and does happen.

For some, a depressive episode strikes like a lightning bolt, or perhaps a strong punch to the stomach. It leaves the sufferer doubled over in pain, helpless and frustrated. This is a depression that stings and stuns; it leaves its victim emotionally and physically debilitated.

For others, depression is like a black cloud off in the distance that creeps in slowly. These individuals see it coming, and the sense of dread sets in little by little as they watch the cloud growing and taking its ugly shape. The dread is for the storm they have weathered all too often, and it’s coming for them yet again. All too soon, the black cloud is overhead, and the storm shows no sign of subsiding.

A relapse can also be difficult to identify. Perhaps you’ve been living with this illness for so long that you’ve forgotten the difference between “normal” and “abnormal” sadness. After all, even people with depressive disorders that are under control with medication still feel symptoms of depression just like everyone else. It can be difficult to determine the source of the sadness and fatigue you’ve felt for the past several weeks or months. You struggle to come up with a reason. Is there a problem in my marriage I’m not facing? Am I unhappy with my career? Am I eating right? Or do I need a medication adjustment or a different treatment approach?

You’re not alone, though depression certainly makes it feel that way. First, go easy on yourself. A depressive episode is much like any other illness that taxes the body. You have to take care of yourself. You do need that sleep, and you do need to eat right and drink plenty of water. Sunlight and exercise can do wonders for your mood as well. Stay away from alcohol – it will only make things worse.

You also need help. For some, journaling can help them through a tough time. Writing down your feelings can be very therapeutic. Some people find comfort in good self-help books on living with depression. One I recommend is “Mind Over Mood: Change How You Feel by Changing the Way You Think” by Dennis Greenberger and Christine Padesky.

Rally your support system. It’s okay to tell trusted friends and family that you’re going through a depressive episode and that you need their support, but make sure that you’re not leaning too heavily on them at the same time. Depression can be taxing on people close to the sufferer as well. Assure them that you are taking steps to get through it, but you need to know that they are there for you.

Whether or not you are on medication for your symptoms, pay a visit to your physician. Make sure there’s nothing else going on that could be causing your symptoms, and talk to your physician about medical options for depression. Do your own research as well – simply educating yourself regarding the treatment options can be empowering in itself and give you hope and a sense of control.

Finally, if you haven’t yet sought psychotherapy, consider doing so. A psychologist or counselor can help you through your feelings as well as assist you in changing the thoughts and behaviors that may be keeping you from feeling better. There may also be a support group near you for sufferers of depression. Last, but certainly not least, if you find yourself thinking about dying or considering killing yourself, reach out for help immediately. Call a crisis hotline, go to an emergency room, or call 911.