Dealing with Depression

Transcription

1 Dealing with Depression C O P I N G S T R A T E G I E S D O R O T H Y W. M O R G A N, M S. E D, LPC, N C C

2 Statistics Although any illness can trigger depressed feelings, the risk of chronic illness and depression gets higher with the severity of the illness and the level of life disruption it causes. The risk of depression is generally 10-25% for women and 5-12% for men. However, people with a chronic illness face a much higher risk -- between 25-33%. Risk is especially high in someone who has a history of depression.

3 Many people with these illnesses become depressed. In fact, depression is one of the most common complications of chronic illness. It's estimated that up to one-third of people with a serious medical condition have symptoms of depression.

4 Chronic Disease Statistics Chronic diseases are the No. 1 cause of death and disability in the U.S. In 2009, 145 million Americans almost half of all Americans lived with a chronic condition. Treating patients with chronic diseases accounts for 75 percent of the nation's health care spending. bined_3.pdf

5 Potential Impact of a Chronic Illness Financial uncertainty Pain/fatigue Stress Unwanted job changes Lost opportunities for promotion Increased accidents Impact on work quality and customer service Negative self-image Feelings of hopelessness related to employability

6 Signs/Symptoms of Depression vary based on: Individual uniqueness Family history Personality Support system Religious/Spiritual belief system Severity of illness

7 Symptoms of depression Persistent sad, anxious or empty feelings Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness Irritability, restlessness Changes in appetite or sleep habits Difficulty concentrating Fatigue Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts Data taken from National Institute of Mental Health(NIMH)

8 Some feelings associated with depression Helpless Empty Anxious Fearful Guilty Exhausted Feeling like a failure Isolated, lonely Lack of a sense of normalcy

9 Depression Co-exists w/other Medical Conditions The first step is to see your doctor because some of the symptoms such as fatigue can be the result of your chronic illness or depression. You ll want to discuss any family history of depression. Be specific about when your symptoms started, length of time you ve had them, severity of symptoms.

10 Reasons to seek help Sometimes the many challenges of life can trigger depression, but add a chronic illness such as Lupus, and you may find yourself really struggling. You should talk with your doctor about this and seek mental health counseling if needed.

11 Steps to help you cope & relieve symptoms of depression Seek support from other people. If your doctor has given you the go-ahead, do some kind of mild activity or exercise. Try relaxation methods (meditation, deep breathing exercises, progressive muscle relaxation) If at all possible try to establish a routine or schedule of activities. Journal Participate in religious, social or other activities.

12 Wellness Toolkit Come up with a list of things that you can do for a quick mood boost. Include any strategies, activities, or skills that have helped in the past. The more tools for coping with depression, the better. Try and implement a few of these ideas each day, even if you re feeling good. Information taken from: HELPGUIDE.ORG

13 Wellness Toolkit Read a good book Watch a funny movie or tv show Take a long hot bath Take care of a few small tasks Play with a pet Talk with friends or family Listen to music

14 Treatment for Depression is Effective Psychotherapy (counseling or talk therapy) Medication Lifestyle changes

15 Resources Biebel, David, and Harold G. Koenig, MD. New Light on Depression. Michigan: Zondervan, Print.