The diagnosis and treatment of depression and depressive illnesses can only be handled by a medical professional, however, if we recognize and pay attention to the symptoms of depression, we can help doctors better treat the disease.
It's normal to feel some of the following symptoms from time to time, but experiencing several or more for more than two or three weeks may indicate the presence of depression or another depressive illness. Remember, depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain that can only be diagnosed by a medical professional. This checklist is provided as a tool to help you talk with your doctor about your concerns and develop an action plan for treatment.
Please note: Other illnesses and certain medications can cause symptoms that mimic the symptoms of depression. A complete medical examination should be performed to rule out the presence of other medical conditions.
* I feel sad.
* I feel like crying a lot.
* I?m bored.
* I feel alone.
* I don't really feel sad, just "empty".
* I don't have confidence in myself.
* I don't like myself.
* I often feel scared, but I don't know why.
* I feel mad, like I could just explode!
* I feel guilty
* I can't concentrate.
* I have a hard time remembering things.
* I don't want to make decisions - its too much work.
* I feel like I'm in a fog.
* I?m so tired, no matter how much I sleep.
* I?m frustrated with everything and everybody.
* I don?t have fun anymore.
* I feel helpless.
* I?m always getting into trouble.
* I?m restless and jittery. I can?t sit still
* I feel nervous.
* I feel disorganized, like my head is spinning.
* I feel self-conscious.
* I can?t think straight. My brain doesn?t seem to work.
* I feel ugly.
* I don?t feel like talking anymore ? I just don?t have anything to say.
* I feel my life has no direction.
* I feel life isn?t worth living.
* I consume alcohol/take drugs regularly.
* My whole body feels slowed down ? my speech, my walk, and my movements.
* I don?t want to go out with friends anymore.
* I don?t feel like taking care of my appearance.
* Occasionally, my heart pounds, I can?t catch my breath, and I feel tingly. My vision feels strange and I feel I might pass out. The feeling passes in seconds, but I?m afraid it will happen again.
* Sometimes I feel like I'm losing it.
* I feel "different" from everyone else.
* I smile, but inside I'm miserable.
* I have difficulty falling asleep or I awaken between 1 A.M. and 5 A.M. and then I can't get back to sleep.
* My appetite has diminished - food tastes so bland.
* My appetite has increased - I feel I could eat all the time.
* My weight has increased/decreased.
* I have headaches.
* I have stomachaches.
* My arms and legs hurt.
* I feel nauseous.
* I'm dizzy.
* Sometimes my vision seems blurred or slow
* I'm clumsy.
* My neck hurts.
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Depression is a serious medical condition that affects the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way one eats and sleeps. It affects how one thinks about things, and one's self perception. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition one can will or wish away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely ?pull themselves together? and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. However, appropriate treatment, often involving medication and/or short term psychotherapy, can help most people who suffer from depression.
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Why do people kill themselves?
The simple answer is: because they?re very sick. Healthy people do not commit suicide. More than 90% of people who commit suicide suffered from a significant psychiatric illness at their time of death. It may seem simplistic, but it's the most honest and basic answer to a complex question. Education and frank discussion are simple ways to help reduce the stigma that prevents a depressed person from seeking the help he needs.
Do people attempt suicide to prove something or to get sympathy?
A suicide attempt is a cry for help that should never be ignored. It is a warning that something is terribly wrong. Chronic major depression can lead to feelings of desperation and hopelessness, and a suicide attempt is one way some people choose to express these feelings. Most people who attempt or commit suicide don?t really want to die ? they just want their suffering to end. A suicide attempt must always be taken seriously. Without intervention and proper treatment, a person who has attempted suicide may be at risk of another attempt, and possible suicide.
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Alone in Canada: 21 Ways to Make it Better is a self-help guide for single newcomers developed by a team at CAMH. The guide is designed to help single new immigrants and refugees adjust to living in a new society as quickly and easily as possible. It provides suggestions on how to deal with 21 of the most common issues encountered by newcomers including how to overcome culture shock and isolation, cope with stress and discrimination, learn English, establish and manage new relationships and enjoy new experiences. The primary goal of this booklet is to decrease the amount of post-migration stresses, facilitate resettling in Canada and promote physical and mental health of single newcomers.
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