Signs of Depression

Here are some of the usual Signs of Depression

Signs of Depression:

Depression is usually defined as a type of mood disorder in which someone has any or all of the following symptoms:

• strong sad feelings
• feelings of guilt
• helplessness
• anxiety
• worry
• fear
• lowered self-esteem
• a loss of interest in life

Depression is usually composed of  Anger Turned Inward!

Many people feel sad, discouraged, or “down” once in a while, but for some people, this mood does not go away. When these problems last two weeks or more, and are so persistent that they get in the way of daily living, this is possibly an emotional depression or…

• These feelings could also be grief for losses that have not been grieved properly.
  • Lost jobs  – when you lose a job you lose many relationships!
  • Lost pets
  • Lost relationships
  • Lost friends or family
• All losses need to be grieved effectively. In many cases grief can come in waves of feeling overwhelmed and can be very frightening if you do not know what to expect. It may be tempting to reach out for medications to stop the normal ebb and flow of grief. Thinking of grief as a cycle like the tide cycle will help you to be less afraid of it and accept it as healthy.
• The normal grief cycle can last for a long time, 5 years or more in many cases.
  • Personally, I still often feel very sad, even responsible, when I think of my beautiful and loyal German Shepherd dog that I was forced to put down over twenty years ago because her hips had gotten so bad she could only crawl on her front legs.
• Crying (even for tough guys) is sometimes a good outlet and may seem to be overly powerful but necessary if you have avoided a lifetime of grief by “medicating” somehow with overworking, overeating, oversleeping, over being depressed, overachieving, underachieving, sex, drugs or rock and roll. When all of that stops working, and it always does, you will still have to deal with the grief for the losses that you have experienced.
  • If you feel responsible for the normal losses or have been involved in relationships with addicted individuals who blamed their sorry existences on you, the temptation to medicate will be increased and you may need help to see your part in the situation accurately.
  • If you actually are responsible for the losses then you will need to go through some sort of self-forgiveness process.
• If you have cried too much you may need to start putting some action into your grief somehow. Practicing forgiving others will allow you to start forgiving yourself.

5 Stages of Grief
1. Denial
2. Anger
3. Bargaining
4. Depression
5. Acceptance

Some simple tips for alleviating the signs of depression temporarily.

• Stop eating sugar, you may have become intolerant to sugar.
• Make a list of the things you feel sad about and see how many of them are actual losses or disappointments
• Talk to a trusted person about these losses or disappointments – one at a time – so you do not get overwhelmed again. Sometimes the depression is simply a feeling of being overwhelmed because you have a lot of perfectly healthy feelings going on but they are confusing in a group.
  • A Toastmaster rule for public speaking is that the audience can really only comprehend three thoughts in one presentation, and that no one can juggle more that 8 projects at a time.
  • If you have more than 8 feelings fighting for your attention then it will be overwhelming, the idea is to try to put them on paper so they will wait till you can attend to them. The ‘feeling’ actually ‘feels’ acknowledged when you do this, its crazy but it works!
• Take life in small chunks, like one hour at a time, or one day at a time.
• Use the “5 Minute Rule” Pick a small task that will only take 5 minutes and do it. Then pick another small task that will only take 5 minutes and do that. You will get a small feeling of accomplishment that may allow you to do another small task. Try it it works.

• Find a support group, attend it and get out of the isolation. Often just the act of reaching out will empower you enough to gain some confidence back.
• Stay off the sugar! Use something else to sweeten up your life, like buying yourself a get well card or a stick of daisies ( like you would for any sick friend ) or a bubbly water for a treat or a solace. Sugar is a real depressant – same as alcohol – actually alcohol is made from sugar. Go figure!

Remember: many anti depressants are Serotonin Inhibitors/Blockers.

• Serotonin is a self-produced ‘feel good’ drug.
• If you are taking anti depressants they will not allow you to feel particularly good because they block or impede the flow of serotonin.
• The theory behind ‘serotonin blockers’ is that if you do not get too “high” (on life) you will not get the corresponding low that always follows a high.

If this is the case, or if you have been taking anti depressants for a long period of time, ask your doctor if your medications are serotonin blockers and what other options may be available.

 

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The Dean of Addictionz

Working the Solution with Multiple and Addicts of all types

• 36 Years Personal Recovery Experience in several Self Help Programs
• Addiction Recovery Outreach Trustee, NW Region Webmaster, Newsletter Editor and contributor for various Recovery Associations Publications
• Published in several major recovery publications:  AA Grapevine, Al-Anon Forum, Overeaters Anonymous “Voices of Recovery” and “Lifeline”, Gamblers Anonymous “Bulletin” &”Toastmaster” Magazine 
• This AddictionZ.com website is featured in Melody Beattie’s current “Codependent no More Workbook”
• Over 45 years successful contracting business experience working with over 2000 employees and Penitentiary halfway house temporary staff.
• Sponsoring many recovering multiple addicts with long-term good results
• Recovery weekend workshop leader in Western Canada & US Pacific NW
• Author “You Can’t Unscrew Somebody Workbook” for relationship makeovers
• Author “Sex Inventory Workbook” for sex issues
• Author “Drunk Driving Workbook”  for safety
• Author “Breaking The Cycle of Gambling Addiction” arrest the money drain!
• Author “Breaking the Cycle of Compulsive Overeating” get healthy!

Here is a thought!
Why don’t you book your sober recovery style vacation with us in beautiful downtown Victoria BC Canada at our Gingerbread Cottage Bed and Breakfast. Over the years we have had lots of therapists, recovering addicts and health professionals stay at our idyllic B&B steps from the Salish Sea. Oh and we have gourmet breakfasts too! Vanessa makes a fantastic Austrian Apple Strudel! see more on our B&B website…

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Have a great One Day at a Time! Dean 🙂