Quick self-assessment! 

Do you feel sad and/or have you lost interest in activities you enjoy? 

Have you been feeling this way for at least two weeks now? 

If you’ve answered yes to both questions, you might be suffering from depression.

 

What is Depression?

Depression—also called “clinical depression” or “major depressive disorder”—is an illness that affects your mood and thoughts. 

It impedes your work, your sleep, and even messes up your appetite for food. 

It differs from the usual feeling of sadness that goes away with some time. Depression is stubborn; A good thing is that it’s curable!

11 Signs and Symptoms That You Are Suffering From Depression

Sadness isn’t the only sign of depression. 

Some people with depression may not even feel sadness at all! 

 

There are plenty of indicators that you may have depression. Some of these symptoms include:

1. Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood

2. Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism

3. Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness

4. Loss of interest in hobbies or activities

5. Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”

6. Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or deciding

7. Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping

8. Appetite and/or weight changes

9. Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

10. Restlessness or irritability

11. Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

4 Shocking Statistical Facts About Depression In The USA

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. 

For some individuals, major depression can cause severe impairments that impede or limit one’s ability to carry out major life activities. 

Here are 4 statistical facts showing the impact of depression nationwide:

1. It is the leading cause of disability for ages 15 to 44.3.

2. Major Depressive Disorder affects over 16.1 million American adults, or about 6.7% of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a year.

3. While the major depressive disorder can develop at any age, the median age at onset is 32.5 years old.

4. More prevalent in women than in men.

October 11 is National Depression Screening Day

Held during Mental Illness Awareness Week in October every year, National Depression Screening Day (NDSD) comprises awareness events that include an optional screening component.

Health screening is a way to catch an illness or condition early, even when there have been no signs of such illness. Catching illness early allows for timely treatment, avoiding the risk of complications.

Much like other illnesses, screenings provide a quick and easy way to spot signs of depression and can reach people who might not otherwise seek professional medical advice. 

5 Apps That Can Exactly Monitor Your Moods

Your moods are part of your emotional rhythm. 

Understanding your moods may help you work out what causes them and how you behave when you are feeling different moods. 

With technology, you can easily keep track of your mood with applications designed for logging your moods.

Here are 5 apps that help people monitor their moods, feelings, behaviors, and thoughts:

1. Moodily – This free app was designed by those with depression to help others living with depression. Use this to keep track of your mood over time and to see which activities may have caused such moods.

2. MoodPanda – Provides graphs and calendars for analysis of your moods; get support and advice from the MoodPanda community

3. MoodKit – A one-of-a-kind app designed to help you apply effective strategies of professional psychology to your everyday life!

4. Daylio – Enables you to keep a private journal without even typing

5. Mood Tracker – A web-app that lets you track important health measurements on a chart

Holistic Ways to Support Depression and Mood Disorders

Treatment for depression focuses on antidepressant medications, but there are actually holistic ways to support it without breaking the bank. Here are some of the following that you can try to lift you up whenever you feel down: 

1. Sleep hygiene – Are actions and bedtime routines that you can do to help promote good sleep using behavioral interventions. 
2. Healthy nutrition – What you eat affects what you feel. Eating nutritious food can strengthen your mental health. 
3. Movement – In case you didn’t know, movement is incredibly effective at lifting mood and reducing symptoms of depression.
   Movement can give you energy, motivation, and productivity boost.
4. Sunlight/Vitamin D – Getting some sun boosts serotonin levels and helps you stave off depression and other mood disorders. When you’re exposed to a healthy dose of the sun’s rays, you are likely to experience some tangible benefits immediately.
5. Relaxation techniques – A daily dose of relaxation is important for managing depression.
   
   Here are some relaxation techniques that are known to help ease depression and other mood disorders. Try the ones that appeal to you:

• Yoga
• Biofeedback
• Massage therapy
• Breathing exercises
• Going for a long walk
• Listening to upbeat music

6. Combating negative thinking – Most depressed people are not aware that the sadness and hopelessness they feel are flowing from their negative thoughts.
   
   Combat negative thinking with positive thoughts that can actually help you ease depression and other mood disorders.

How to get support

Just because a pandemic is keeping us from our normal routines, it doesn’t mean we will take our mental health for granted. Especially if you’re dealing with depression and other mood disorders.

Willow Place for Women is offering support for women with depression in our PHP and IOP programming that includes: 

• One-on-one therapy sessions
• Group Counseling 
• DBT Skills Training 
• Nutrition counseling, and more! 

If you or someone you love is battling with depression and other mood disorders, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us and get professional help today.