Do you have days where nothing can make you happy? You are not alone. I ignored my depressive thoughts about life for years. Unfortunately I didn't do anything to fix my situation until they became so dehabilitating that I had no choice.
Mental disorders are common in the United States and internationally. In a given year, an estimated 22.1% of Americans aged 18 and older (about 1 in 5 adults) suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder. According to the 1998 United States Census population estimate, this figure translates to 44.3 million people! In addition, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability in the U.S. and other developed countries are mental disorders, with major depression being the leading cause of disability.
It is estimated that depression alone will occur in approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5% of the United States population aged 18 or above. If you are a woman, you are twice as likely than a man (12% vs. 6.6%) to be affected by depression each year.
My symptoms of depression started with an occasional case of the blahs. I was able to cope with them for a long time. I thought that since this happens to a lot of people, that it would pass and I didn't need to worry. I didn't think about finding out why it was happening. Besides, after a few drinks I always felt much better. I later learned that depressive disorders commonly occur with substance abuse...
So what is the cause of all of this sadness in our society? Speaking from experience, I wasn't happy with my life and the direction it was taking me. I would look back at a past week and not be able to recall one thing that I enjoyed. It was a blur. Nor would I look forward to the coming weeks ahead. All I saw were potential stresses that were going to present themselves. But I didn't do anything about it. I accepted that this was life. Looking back I don't know how I could have ever believed this.
When we are suffering from depression, it seems that we lose our objectivity. Does thinking that we have nothing to look forward to sound rational to you? Where did my enjoyment in life disappear to? It was my perception of the world that had slowly changed and I was unable to see it because of the control that my depression had over me.
In the fast pace of today's world we often don't allow ourselves time to evaluate our lives and set goals to realize our ambitions. Whether you do or do not have depression, you're reading this article because you think something might be wrong with your life. Have you tried to identify the things you are unhappy with? The first step for me was to educate myself and find out what it was that I was dealing with. I started reading books. I consulted a psychologist to get some unbiased insight about myself.
Otherwise, how do we find solutions for problems that we don't yet understand? So let's get started. What's stopping you?
David Smith is the writer for My Depression Help, a resource site where he describes his feelings and experiences with depression and provides the depression help treatment he used for his recovery. Read more about me and my depression experiences.
There are many things that happen within the body when... Read More
Many illnesses, emotional and otherwise, are often said to be... Read More
Only somebody who has lived with anxiety ? as either... Read More
Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and... Read More
Many of us feel depressed at one time or another,... Read More
The 'experts' have tried to evaluate me as a sufferer... Read More
Depression is the most prevalent of all the emotional disorders.... Read More
Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or... Read More
With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More
FDA confirms some antidepressants increase suicide risk in some children.... Read More
When suffering from clinical depression, people have different ways of... Read More
The Law of BlueJust sort of feeling blue, kinda out... Read More
On February 3, 2005 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration... Read More
In 1965, a chemist working to develop an ulcer drug... Read More
It may come in waves, it may control our lives.... Read More
We've all been there? One minute your listening intently as... Read More
A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
Our innate desire is to be happy, and when we... Read More
Typical signs of depression actually show a change in the... Read More
We all suffer with bad moods from time to time.... Read More
On July 18, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
My definition of procrastination is that a person delays and... Read More
Andropause correlates directly with depression ? a major player in... Read More
The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to... Read More
According to the World Health Organization, 4 of the 10... Read More
Depression strikes most of us and it can make us... Read More
For those who face depression, every day of their lives... Read More
Depression is a serious issue. There are simply hundreds of... Read More
Unfortunately, millions of Americans currently suffer from the debilitating effects... Read More
We all have days when we are down, worn out... Read More
Depression is a problem that faces many of us, young... Read More
What is Stigma? Stigma is the use of stereotypes and... Read More
If you've been diagnosed with bipolar disorder (also known as... Read More
Scientologists believe that chemical imbalances do not exist. In their... Read More
When I first mention this to most people, they really... Read More
No doubt you have seen the recent news headlines about... Read More
Winter time is depression time for many women. Perhaps it... Read More
Having lived with a depressed partner for 3 years and... Read More
A new research study has again shown that a diet... Read More
When a person undertakes a course of therapy through their... Read More
A major symposium about vagus nerve stimulation as a treatment... Read More
Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated... Read More
Depression is a condition which affects about 15% of the... Read More
What is depression?Depression is a serious medical illness; it's not... Read More
Countless number of patients and their family members have asked... Read More
With the next few weeks, the FDA is expected to... Read More
During the assessment process it is of great importance for... Read More
While it is arguable that depression is not always preventable,... Read More
On June 2 at 8:00 pm ET, Reuters news service... Read More
What can you say to a parent who loses a... Read More
Depression is a problem that faces many of us, young... Read More
IntroductionChange in social and economical states throughout the world although... Read More
Long term care facilities and residents' doctors should consider combining... Read More
Only somebody who has lived with anxiety ? as either... Read More
A zoo attendant entered a lion cage carrying only a... Read More
What do you do when your fears and depression are... Read More
Do you blame your past, your family, your partner, your... Read More
Life wasn't easy for cave men. They had to hunt... Read More
Many people who are suffering from mild to moderate depression,... Read More
The Law of PermanenceSuicide is always a permanent solution to... Read More
1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will... Read More
We all have days when we are down, worn out... Read More
Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives.... Read More
On July 18, 2005, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA)... Read More
Our innate desire is to be happy, and when we... Read More
Depression |