What is depression?
I have noticed on social media a lot in the last few weeks that many people are suffering from depression. What I have also noticed is that a lot of people do not know what to say, blame the depression on the persons lack of faith and makes them feel worse. Have you lost interest in things you used to enjoy? Do you avoid being around people, or are you irritated by everyone you are around? Are you feeling intensely sad, down on yourself, or hopeless? If you’re experiencing any of these feelings, it could be depression.
Everyone experiences sadness, irritability, or low energy from time to time, but these feelings usually pass. Depression is different from these occasional feelings. If you have depression, it can be hard to do everyday activities, and you may have problems that cause your relationships to suffer. You might focus on what’s not going well in your life and have trouble seeing the positive. Perhaps you don’t feel pleasure in the activities, people, and things you used to enjoy.
Depression is a common but serious problem that affects people in different ways. It affects not only your mood but also your body, actions, and thoughts. Depression can interfere with daily life and usual functioning.
Depression can affect anyone — young and old, men and women, of all ethnic groups and all walks of life. Stressful situations or traumatic events that sometimes occur in military life might be associated with depression in Veterans and Service members. Life events that may cause stress include:
- Death of a friend or family member
- Traumatic events such as combat, injury, natural disasters, or physical or sexual abuse
- Health problems or disabilities
- Retirement
- Transitioning to civilian life after military service
- Preparing for deployment
- Reintegration
- Relationship problems or divorce
- Birth of a child
- Changing jobs, difficult work situations, or losing a job
- Financial problems
Not everyone with depression has the same symptoms or feels the same way. One person might have difficulty sitting still, while another may find it hard to get out of bed each day. Other symptoms that may be signs of depression or may go along with being depressed include:
- Gaining or losing weight
- Eating more or less than usual almost every day
- Sleeping too much or not enough almost every day
- Feeling restless and unable to sit still
- Feeling that moving takes great effort
- Feeling tired or as if you have no energy almost every day
- Feeling unworthy or guilty nearly every day
- Having low self-esteem or feeling down on yourself
- Finding it hard to focus, remember things, or make decisions nearly every day
- Feeling anxious, worried, or nervous
- Drinking more alcohol or caffeine
- Taking more of a prescription or over-the-counter medication than is directed
- Smoking or using tobacco more often
Having thoughts of suicide, thinking that others would be better off without you, and believing that there is no other way out of your problems are very serious symptoms of depression and need immediate attention. It’s important you talk to someone right away if you have thoughts of death or suicide.
Please email me at Arleen@arleenfuller.org and also you can go to a network I am building at miracledeliverancefpc.org and join there for support.
