Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders. It was estimated that approximately 16 million adults met the criteria for major depressive disorder last year. (see NAMI’s website). Depression has a variety of causes both biological and environmental, and is more than just feeling sad. We all go through periods of sadness in our life; this is normal and expected. When sadness becomes overwhelming, potentially with thoughts of suicide, not taking care of yourself (not eating well – either too much or too little, not sleeping well – either sleeping too much or too little, not showering or caring about your upkeep, isolating from others you love, not enjoying things you once did, it may be time to seek out professional assistance to determine if you have depression. If depression lasts too long, it can seem like a huge black hole, consuming you and seemingly hopeless to get out of. How, then, can you alleviate some of the symptoms of depression? First, hold hope that it can and will improve. Have you ever been successful at doing something that you’ve given up trying to accomplish? Second, take care of yourself. The body and brain are very complex and need a variety of components to work optimally. It is imperative that you eat well to give yourself the energy you need to get through each day. Get plenty of sleep, but not too much. Exercise and find time for relaxation each day. Make sure you get in the shower, brush your teeth and get dressed, even if you don’t feel like it. Do things that make you feel calm – use your senses (scented candles, bubble baths, massages, etc). Even only a few minutes of this daily can make so much of a difference. Third, give yourself a break; don’t beat yourself up. Overcoming depression takes time; it does not happen over night. Do not give up on it. Working on depression recovery is a lot of work, but in the end is so worthwhile and rewarding!

Do you think that mental illness is a “real” problem? Do you believe things like post-traumatic stress disorder or depression exist? Mental illness has existed since the beginning of time, but it wasn’t until 1954 that the first DSM (the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – which is the manual we reference when identifying what potential mental illness a client has) was published. Since then there have been several revisions to the manual. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has a wealth of information on mental illness to help de-stigmatize it. Take a look at their website. NAMI.ORG. The National Institute on Mental Illness NIMH.GOV is another site with a wealth of information to look at. Finally, The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration SAMHSA.GOV is a third excellent website to look at. Nobody is immune to depression, PTSD or any mental illness. It is therefore important to keep balance in your life – balance your work life with your home life. Make sure you get plenty of rest and exercise. Make sure you take time to have fun every day. Eat well. All of these seemingly simple things can help keep you healthy and keep your stress down. This in turn will help you avoid symptoms of depression and anxiety.