Another Shade of Blue

I currently suffer from situational depression. Yay! Admitting that you have a problem is the first step to solving it, yes? Great! Now, with your depression somehow find the energy and decisiveness necessary to complete the other steps to full mental health! *claps like a Disney princess*

It doesn't work like that, especially when you're uninsured. *mutters curses and naughty words*

Depression isn't just being sad all the time. As a matter of fact, depression doesn't even have to mean that you're even sad very often. Depression and sadness come in hundreds of different flavors designed especially for you! Take your time! Browse! Pick the color that goes best with your eyes.

In my experience (although I have not personally experienced all of these), symptoms of depression include lethargy, an inability to make basic decisions, lack of motivation, muscular aches, constant or lurking sadness, disruption of sleep patterns (insomnia, sleeping in, or compulsive napping), primary headaches, difficulty generating ideas (foggy thinking), the pressure to cry in unguarded moments (some people cry constantly, and some cannot cry at all, although they feel the pressure), anxiety attacks, firm and unshakable pessimism, irritability, impatience, and cowardice.

The uneducated often mis-diagnose depression as some character flaw, or just sadness. I eat them for breakfast, along with anyone who has ever seriously uttered the phrase, "it's all in your head." They are crunchy and taste good with catsup.

Recognize the difference between causes and triggers. Brain chemistry causes depression. It's that simple. That's why most people treat it with medication. It's like taking insulin when you're diabetic. Some basic self-care can help as well (sunlight, exercise, priesthood blessings, or service). Support from others is extremely important, as are daily scripture study, constant prayer, loyal temple attendance, weekly Sacrament services, and Visiting or Home Teaching (both directions). None of these things, alone or in combination, can "cure" depression, but they all contribute to mental health, which puts the sufferer in a position to deal. Ironically, these things become much more difficult when one suffers. Oh, the irony!

Triggers are events or situations that create or re-create the chemical imbalance which causes depression. Depression can happen with or without a trigger, but people who have suffered from non-clinical depression can often trace the beginning down to a specific event. For instance, when I was at college I heard on the radio that one of my friends from high school had drowned in a local reservoir. That news didn't cause my subsequent depressive episode, it simply set off a chain reaction. Mourning a dead friend is healthy, but when the sadness won't shake off, or it disrupts beyond what is reasonable, or other symptoms begin to manifest, your mental health has abandoned you and it's time to seek some foster care.

Educate yourself. Learn how to deal, whether it's your brain or your mother's. The people around us/you/them suffer too.