How to know if you're depressed and ways to overcome it

Symptoms of depression:

• Physical Excessive sleep, poor appetite, low libido, insomnia, head and body aches, trembling, nausea, craving for carbohydrates, eating excessive salty foods, tire easily, skin problems and low energy level.
• Emotional Irritability, confused, crying easily, insecurity, anxiety, agitation, negative attitude, low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, fear and paranoia, feeling victimised and misunderstood, angry, excessively regretful, bored and despondent.
• Behavioural Withdrawal, low concentration levels, inability to show affection, void of emotion, more pronounced learning disabilities, inability to function, quiet, disorganised, increased consumption of alcohol and avoiding people and activities.

What you should do...

• Support Talk to a trained therapist to validate your feelings or get emotional support from someone you trust.
• Activities Keep busy by spending time with good friends, joining a support group or caring for a pet. You can also take up gardening as a hobby or sports such as yoga or dancing. Engaging in charitable and altruistic endeavours is another way to feel good about yourself while giving back to the community.
• Attitude Embrace the challenges life throws at you. Change your negative thought patterns into positive ones. Be kind to yourself and live one day at a time. Endorse and affirm your efforts and have a sense of humour.
• Management Maintain a good balance between rest and recreation. Eat healthily and keep yourself busy. If necessary you may require prescription medication.
• Spirituality Meditate and pray to get in touch with your spirituality.

MCN Psychological Counselling Services, Tel: 6235 3163/

 Posted September 2011