Depression & You

We often say that we are down or depressed, but how many of us actually know the clinical symptoms of depression? The most common psychological disorder reported by GP's is depression. In order to be diagnosed with depression an individual must report most of the following symptoms over a two week period:

· feeling sad most of the time
· lost interest in most of your usual activities
· lost or gained weight
· felt excessively guilty
· sleep disturbance
· felt worthless
· had poor concentration
· were very indecisive

Looking at the list above, I think many people may have experienced these symptoms at one time or another. There is no one single cause of depression and consequently there is no one quick fix either. What is important to remember is that the individual suffering from depression is not doing it for attention, or trying to be difficult, they are genuinely struggling with their emotions and no doubt finding it increasingly difficult to do their job effectively.

It has been reported that of those that see a life coach, a fifth of clients have symptoms that could classify them as having clinical depression. This suggests that people may view seeing a coach as more acceptable than going to see a psychologist or counsellor. With the dramatic increase in the acceptance and use of coaches in the corporate arena, it is imperative that if a client appears to have depression they are referred to a psychologist who can assist them more fully. That said coaching alone may go along way in helping to restore a persons self esteem and give them more clarity in the workplace and beyond.

There are many strategies for helping an individual alleviate the symptoms of depression including, healthy diet, relaxation techniques, meditation, exercise, medication and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT helps individuals become aware of negative thought patterns and destructive actions which often follow. In a recent American study moderate, regular exercise was found to be as effective as anti-depressants for patients suffering from mild depression. Therefore with many workplaces now offering gymnasiums on site or subsidised membership to gymnasiums this is great news for those of us that may be experiencing depression or are feeling a little blue. Individuals often try to self-medicate through food, alcohol, caffeine, sugar or drugs. These vices may indeed provide a quick fix, but they do not get to the root of the illness and will often aggravate it further.

If you or someone you know may be suffering from depression, early intervention ensures that you will get the help and support you need. Be honest about how you are feeling, as keeping things to yourself or pretending everything is fine will only aggravate the illness further. It is estimated that 60% of the population at some point in their lives will suffer from depression, therefore instead of denying how you are feeling, rest assured that many people have experienced depression, including well known celebrities like Jim Carey, Larry King & Britney Spears. It is not a life long illness and with support and taking positive steps depression can be managed successfully.

The following link is fort a quick depression self test.. The site also offers a wealth of information, factsheets and support.

http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/public/depression/howtotell/selftesting.cfm