Do I Have Depression?
Some 19 million Americans struggle with depression each year. Unfortunately, many who suffer never seek an official diagnosis or receive treatment. Is this you?
Untreated, depression can become a very serious health condition. According to the World Health Organization, depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, and the 2nd leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15-29. If you’re concerned you or someone you love may be dealing with depression, you should take it very seriously.
Are you depressed?
Start with the obvious—depression is more than a temporary case of the blues or sadness related to life’s hurts and heartaches. We all experience sadness from time to time. Clinical depression, however, abides. It becomes unrelenting. In time, it will negatively affect the way you think, feel and function.
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. While the experience of depression can vary person to person, there are several common, recognizable signs. 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? Continued to occur for longer than two weeks? If so, you may be dealing with clinical depression. We can help.
If you are experiencing symptoms of clinical depression, you are not alone. Depression doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all ages, including children, and people of all cultural and religious backgrounds. Billions suffer around the world today.
The very good news is that your depression can be successfully treated. Be encouraged. Many who suffer are cured.
A specific cause of major depression has not been identified. A person’s genes, brain chemistry, life experiences, and psychological and spiritual health can all be contributing factors.
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.
Under the proper care, your symptoms of depression can be alleviated with medication, allowing you to focus on attaining the psychological and spiritual skills which will enable you to live beyond depression.
Remember: Depression is dangerous and can become deadly if untreated. Don’t wait. Renewal can start today with a simple phone call.
The individualized treatment, experienced staff, and tranquil environment at Honey Lake Clinic will help you take control of your life and discover happiness and wholeness again.
