Are You Feeling Depressed?
Is depression keeping you from a happy, motivated and healthy life? It doesn’t have to anymore. Spiritual, physical and mental renewal can start today with something as simple as a phone call. What are you waiting for?
Some 19 million Americans struggle with depression each year. Unfortunately, many who suffer never seek an official diagnosis or receive treatment.
Are you feeling depressed?
A starting point is to determine whether you’re simply feeling depressed or if you’re battling depression. It is quite normal for all of us to feel depressed at times, to be sad or emotionally blue as a result of life’s obstacles or difficulties. Losing a loved one, an unforeseen change in life circumstances, the loss of a job, the ending of a relationship—all of these are very emotionally trying experiences.
More than a situational sadness, depression is a serious mental health condition. Depression abides, negatively affecting the way you think, feel and function, causing feelings of sadness and loss of interest in life activities one enjoyed. Untreated, depression can become a very serious health condition, leading to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
Ask yourself: As you’re feeling depressed, can you imagine a light at the end of the tunnel? Can you see past the sadness? Is there a point on the horizon where the clouds break?
Being sad is not the same as having depression. There are some similarities, but there are also important differences. For instance—
- Sadness tends to come in waves, intermixed with lighter-hearted moments. You can see a light at the end of the tunnel. Depression feels unrelenting. There’s no light. There’s no end to the tunnel.
- With sadness, self-esteem usually remains intact. With depression, feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing commonly accompany the sadness.
There isn’t a specific test to determine if you’re dealing with depression. Rather, depression is diagnosed based on the presence, frequency and duration of certain symptoms. They can include—
- Trouble concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions
- Fatigue
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
- Pessimism and hopelessness
- Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much
- Irritability
- Restlessness
- Loss of interest in things once pleasurable, including sex
- Overeating, or appetite loss
- Aches, pains, headaches, or cramps that won’t go away
- Digestive problems that don’t get better, even with treatment
- Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
Do you recognize any of these signs and symptoms in your own life or in someone you love? Have you experienced a combination of them? Have they intensified? Have they continued for more than a couple weeks? We understand what you’re going through. We can help.
A healthy mind, body and spirit defeats depression. Faith-based residential treatment is the solution.
At Honey Lake Clinic, our experienced doctors and staff recognize that faith-based treatment, which encompasses your physical, mental and spiritual health, will provide you with the long-lasting tools and knowledge to loosen depression’s hold on your life.
You will regain control of your life through individualized treatment in a beautiful and tranquil 1300-acre lakeside setting at Honey Lake Clinic. Under the proper care, symptoms of your depression can be alleviated with medication, allowing you to focus on developing the psychological and spiritual skills to discover a life beyond depression.
Depression is dangerous and can become deadly if untreated. Don’t wait. Renewal can start today with a simple phone call.
