Good News about Depression: But stay depressed if you must: some obviously like it that way.
May 23rd 2008 01:56
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From the Beatrice Daily Sun:
"One out of five people will suffer a bout with clinical depression at some point in their lives.
“The good thing is, it’s treatable,” said Roger Aveyard, a certified professional counselor, in speaking to teens and parents Wednesday evening during a presentation on teens and depression at Homestead Baptist Church in Beatrice.
“That’s why it really saddens me when I hear about a suicide, because depression is so treatable if someone gets the help they need,” he said.
Depression is characterized by symptoms such as persistent sad or empty mood; loss of interest in ordinary activities; changes in appetite or weight; inability to sleep or oversleeping; decreased energy or fatigue; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness; and thoughts of death or suicide.
Aveyard said a person with depression might go from an A student to flunking, begin to isolate himself from friends or show a change in personality.
“You can see this happening in a friend,” he said.
Aveyard said thoughts of suicide among friends should be taken seriously.
“If a friend says to you they’re thinking about taking their life, take that seriously,” he said.
Aveyard said to take the threat seriously especially if that person is asked if they have a plan for suicide and they answer yes.
“Tell somebody, be willing to give up their friendship to save their life,” he said.
Aveyard said about half the patients he sees are dealing with depression. He said that while basically depression is similar to getting up on the wrong side of the be or being grumpy through the day, clinical depression can last for weeks or months and is very serious.
“Talk therapy and medication are two ways to treat it,” he said.
Aveyard said depression can be caused by loss, such as the death of a parent or family member, breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, moving, divorce or getting sick.
In depression, brain chemistry plays a factor, which is why it’s important to take care of the brain by eating well, exercising and doing new things to stir the mind, he said.
“We now know you can develop new brain cells all your life,” Aveyard said.
He said depression is characterized by low levels of serotonin in the brain.
“If that’s low you can be depressed. You might start having bad thoughts or start to think negatively,” Aveyard said.
He said depression is inherited, so if a child has a parent who dealt with depression the chances of that child dealing with depression are higher.
Aveyard said parents are very important in getting children help with depression, because they’re the ones that brings the child in.
“There’s a lot of help out there. Depression is really treatable, that’s why it’s so sad when somebody takes their life, because it is treatable,” he said.
Aveyard said the suicide rate in Gage County is generally three to four times higher than the national average.
“We don’t know why,” he said.
That’s why he encourages people to get others they know are suffering from depression to get help.
“Suicide is not about life and death, it’s about stopping the emotional pain,” he said.
Aveyard said that while some children will show signs of depression and that they might commit suicide, others won’t.
“Even the best parents can be fooled. Some kids are really good at covering up,” he said.
Aveyard said nobody wants their friend to commit suicide.
“Kids don’t think about telling, they feel like they’re ratting, but if you have to lose a friend to save their life, do it, you won’t be sorry,” he said.
I do hope this article will be of help to some
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