Kelly’s Korner- Are You Clinically Depressed Or Just Sad?

Everyone gets down in the dumps every now and then.  But sometimes you can get MORE than down in the dumps, and can have a really tough time getting back on your feet. How do you know if you are suffering from clinical depression or maybe just suffering from a serious case of the blues?

I often think of that song by Christina Perri, called "Human:"

"I can hold the weight of the world if that's what you need, be your number one... But I'm only Human...I bleed when I fall down...I'm only human...I crash and I break down...Your words in my head, knives in my heart...you build me up and then I fall apart".

Sound familiar? We're only human.  We aren't perfect, and sadness is a part of human life. But it sure sucks.  I hate it.  We sometimes overthink things....sometimes we don't think enough.  What can I say...I'm guilty in all aspects.

So my question is: What if you don’t bounce back? What if your feelings of sadness linger on and on and on? What if you’re feeling tired and worthless, or experiencing weight changes along with your sadness?

Depression shows itself in different ways. Common depression symptoms are:

• Depressed mood
• Sadness or an “empty” feeling, or appearing sad or tearful to others
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you once enjoyed
• Significant weight loss when not dieting, or significant weight gain
• Inability to sleep or sleeping too much
• Restlessness or feeling irritated
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness, or excessive or inappropriate guilt
• Difficulty thinking or concentrating, or indecisiveness
• Recurrent thoughts of death or suicide without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or specific plan for committing suicide

When Should You Get Help?

According to  http://www.webmd.com/depression/is-it-depression-or-the-blue,   if you have five or more of these symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, and the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily activities, you may have major depression.

There are many different treatments....If you don't want to take medication, they may recommend counseling, or some other kind of treatment.  What's most important is to realize where you are at.  Do you have a reason to feel this way?  Can you pick yourself up after a couple weeks and continue on?  Can you find things to keep yourself busy?  If you just can't, make sure you reach out for help.  After all, you want relief, and you might be able to find it...But sometimes you have to take that first step.