There are more reasons to be depressed today than there have ever been. Luckily, there are more effective ways to deal with it today too. But don't you hate when someone expects you to snap out of your funk - as if it's just a mild headache or something?
And occasionally you may encounter folks in your life like my friend, John, who appears over-the-top excited and cheerful everyday. It's funny, he reminds me of that character on the Simpsons called "Ned Flanders," and I'd chuckle to myself when I'd think of that comparison.
What is "Clinical Depression?" Clinical depression has a lengthy list of symptoms, but quickly it just indicates you feel so down for a minimum of two weeks that you can't do the things you normally do.
As you likely already understand, depression can be greatly different for different people. But MDD or "Major Depressive Disorder" is the more severe kind of depression. But MDD is not a condition that comes on abruptly. No, it evolves over time, so don't allow yourself to deteriorate to that level without getting support first.
But a short summary of the standard symptoms of depression include: Sleeping too long or not long enough just about every night. Over-eating or under-eating on a regular basis. Low energy, the feeling of being fatigued all the time. Other symptoms that also show up with the others are various inexplicable conditions like stomachaches or headaches.
So how do you deal with depression properly? The quick solution is with a combination of external assistance and self-help. We'll review the two of these separately below:
External Help: The outside help should really start with a search for a qualified health professional in the town - someone who is schooled and experienced in dealing with depression. Ideally, this person can make recommendations to you with an open mind and not always default to either medication or always default to the same 'touchy-feely' alternative treatment. For example, some orthopedic surgeons always recommend surgery because that is what they are trained in, when in reality the better alternative is physical therapy.
...So you should inquire as to what a doctor or medical facility's normal treatment options are included. Which one(s) were used the most in the last year? Just remember that often the best approach to treating depression involves a combination of treatment options that are customized to the individual patient.
Self-Help Options: This one's easy - Simply reading self-help books and applying what you've read! But keep in mind that even the best self-help book on defeating depression will not work without your participation. Self-help books have proven to be better in many cases than 'professional' counseling, but only with the willing and (somewhat) enthusiastic participation of the reader.
On the other hand, don't expect any permanent, long-lasting help from medication alone. That is, unless your particular problem is due 100% to a chemical imbalance in your brain (like low serotonin levels for example).
Waiting for a pill to magically fix ALL of life's problems doesn't exist, but unfortunately many depressed persons hold out hope for one. But the sooner they dig in and start to look at their treatment options with an open mind, the sooner they will find something that works and works well. Being proactive in your recovery will always beat being passive - waiting for something to happen.
Charles's incredible survival of a suicide attempt when he was just 16 inspired him to write a controversial book to help others titled "Outsmart Your Depression By Learning More About Yourself: A Step-By-Step Guide With Extraordinary Case Studies." To discover more about how to deal with depression go to his site at http://dealwithdepression.org/
