Ask Pat

Most people feel down from time to time. Many times stress, especially for college students, seems overwhelming. This is normal. When does feeling down move from a natural response to stress and tension to a long lasting illness that affects the mind and body?

What are the symptoms of depression?

• Withdrawl from people and activities
• Losing interest and pleasure in life, loss of sexual interest
• Unexplained aches and pains, poor digestion
• Insomnia, or sleeping too much, early morning waking, or difficulty getting to sleep.
• Loss of appetite, or weight gain
• Lack of energy
• Loss of self-esteem
• Poor memory
• Inability to concentrate
• Suicidal thoughts or actions

Not all of these symptoms have to be present to have a depressive disorder.

What causes depression?

• Major life changes-they can be either positive or negative
• Family history of depression
• Major illness
• Certain medications can cause depression as a side effect
• Chemical imbalance in the brain
• Depression can also occur without any apparent reason!!

What are the types of depression?

Dysthymia

• Mild depression that can last for years
• People with this can function fairly well on a daily basis
• Usually work and relationships suffer over time
  

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)

• Depression that results from changes in the season.
• Sometimes artificial light therapy is a sucessful treatment
• More common in northern states where the winter season is longer and darker
  

Bipolar Disorder

• Changing back and forth between periods of depression and periods of mania (an extreme high)
• Mood changes are usually gradual
• mania
• Insomnia
• Overconfidence
• Racing thoughts
• Reckless behavior
• Increased energy

Major depression

• Symptoms are triggered suddenly, possibly by a loss, crisis or change
• Symptoms interfere with normal day-to-day functioning
• Continues for months or years if left untreated
• Negatively affects relationships
• Episodes can repeat several times during the course of one's life
  

If these symptoms concern you or someone that you may know...seek help. Although depression is common, it can have a profound negative impact on one's life! In most cases, it can easily be treated. If someone is showing these symptoms they can get help by calling the following numbers: