What is Depression?

Not what you think.

Depression is more than feeling sad. Symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, no motivation, anger, and indecisiveness also make up what people experience when depression is at the root. Anti-depressants that are not narcotics are the first medicine of choice. However, anti-depressants work best when counseling is added along with the medicine.

Many clients are afraid of taking anti-depressants. They fear that they will become addicted and that the medicine will “mess” with their brains. I always insist on a doctor visit – preferably a psychiatrist – for them to decide if anti-depressants are the right way to go. After seeing a doctor, we go from there.

Here is some logic. If a person had diabetes, they would have to use insulin type drugs to survive. They would not be addicted to those medicines; they would be dependent. Just like any other injury, the brain is an organ and due to trauma or other life situations, the brain sometimes needs some help to be able to function optimally.

One word that I loathe is “crazy”. Some people are resistant to going to a psychiatrist because they believe it would be admitting that they are crazy. Not true… ever. The brain can get hurt and unlike other parts of the body, no one can see the hurts. Those hurts damage the brain and sometimes make the necessary chemicals that the brain needs to function properly, unavailable.

Do yourself or a loved one a favor. If sadness, anger, excessive fatigue, lack of motivation or indecisiveness lasts more than two weeks, see a doctor. If that doctor suspects depression, he or she will hopefully recommend that a psychiatrist should be on the wellness team. Don’t wait for help. Relief can be an appointment away.