Depression is a very common problem. Almost everyone is depressed sometime in his or her life. It is a serious problem because it robs an individual of the joy of life. In severe cases, it can lead to suicide. The following can be symptoms of depression:

*Low mood, varying from slight sadness to crippling feelings of being unworthy.

*Feelings of hopelessness or overwhelming guilt.

*Thought disorders, including lack of concentration and difficulty making decisions.

*Loss of interest in work, hobbies, relationships, and/or religion.

*Feeling slowed down or restless with trouble sitting still.

*Problems with memory.

*Sleeping too much (usually) or too little.

*Low levels of physical and mental energy.

*Increase or decrease in appetite, weight gain or loss.

*Withdrawal from family and friends.

*Thoughts of death or suicide.

This common mental health challenge has three components: situational, biochemical and behavioral.

SITUATIONAL:

It is normal and a sign of mental and emotional health to be depressed when things go wrong. The only question is the level, duration, and cause of the depression. Does the level of depression and the duration seem to be appropriate to the problem?

Examples of depression that are NORMAL and signs of mental and emotional health:

*Death of a significant person. This can last a lifetime in some cases. After a period of time, it should not prevent usual activities from continuing.

*Loss of a significant person. This can be almost as difficult as death, and sometimes worse. The most common situation is the break-up of a relationship. This would also include someone having a serious or fatal illness or a major injury resulting in disability or disfigurement.

*Major material loss. If your house burns down, you lose your job, you flunk out of school, you get a serious injury or develop a significant medical problem, it is normal to be depressed.

Examples of depression that are ABNORMAL and signs of mental and/or emotional illness:

*Crying for years about a pet that died.

*Unable to continue everyday activities even though the event was more than three months ago.

*Getting really depressed because you have complexion problems.

BIOCHEMICAL:

You were born with a unique nervous system. Everyone has areas of risk in the area of mental and emotional health. Maybe you are more likely than most to get into trouble with drugs or alcohol. Perhaps you are more likely to be seriously depressed. For chronic depression due to biochemical factors, there are very effective medications.

Women have an additional area of vulnerability. As they get older, their hormone levels decrease and they may have major mental and emotional problems. This can be treated with replacement hormones, which may include small amounts of male hormones that their ovaries previously produced.

BEHAVIORAL:

When you get depressed, you act differently. Some of these changes in your behavior can become habits. Unless you actively change these behaviors, they will contribute to the persistence of the depression. When you are trying to get out of a depression, act as if you were not depressed:

*Sleep no more than eight hours a night.

*Do not use any drugs or alcohol.

*Start, or resume, exercising.

*Eat a healthy and nutritious diet.

*Get out and do things.

*Tell yourself and your friends that you are okay again.

*Listen to your favorite music.

*Do an activity that you enjoy (sewing, needlepoint, etc.).

*Smile at every person you meet.

*Read a book by your favorite author.

*Write down a list of the things that make you happy and that you are thankful for. (See how many items you can come up with!)

*Hold your child(ren).

*Think of the moments in your life that have given you joy.

This is a very powerful technique. Everyone knows that how you feel determines how you act and that attitude leads to behavior. It is important to realize that it is equally true in the reverse direction. How you act can determine how you feel. Changing your behavior can change your attitude.

If someone you love is showing signs or symptoms of depression, seek help immediately. There is nothing wrong with reaching out for help and it may save the life of someone you love.