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LiveWell May 19, 2015 11:57:31 PM 2 min read

You Are NOT Alone

you are not alone

Everyone feels blue or sad from time to time, but these feelings typically are short-lived and pass within a few days. Depression is a mood disorder that affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. It interferes with daily life and causes pain for both you and those who care about you. Depression is a common yet very serious illness that is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and/or psychological factors. Many people suffering from depression experience persistent sad, or empty feelings, feelings of hopelessness or pessimism, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness, irritability, and restlessness. Others experience a loss of interest in activities or hobbies, they may become fatigued and experience a decrease in energy, diminished ability to concentrate, remembering details, and making decisions.  Some people may also experience insomnia, or excessive sleeping, noteworthy weight loss or weight gain, thoughts of suicide or suicide attempts.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, note YOU ARE NOT ALONE. It may feel like you are but you’re not. Find somebody to talk to, take action to help yourself. Do not wait too long to get help, the longer one seeks to get help, the greater the impairment can get. You should try to be active and exercise, break large tasks into smaller one and prioritize. When goal setting, make sure to make realistic goals, ones that you can achieve. Try spending time with loved ones, people you can trust. Allow others to help you, and not isolate yourself. One thing you must remember, it will take time for your mood to improve, you can’t just “snap out of it.” How you talk to yourself impacts the emotions that you feel so think positive. Positive thinking will replace your negative thoughts. Some people have said writing in a journal and planning out their days have helped them during their time of depression.  Note, you should avoid making important decisions when you’re feeling depressed, since you may not be thinking clearly.

If you know someone who is depressed, the most important thing you can do is to be there for them and encourage them to get help.

We are all in this together.

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