How many people around you are feeling depressed? #lifescript #ad

This is a sponsored post by me about feeling depressed and depression on behalf of Lifescript.com.

Before I really begin this post, take a moment and really think about this question:

How many people around you are feeling depressed? 

Sadly, it’s probably far more than you think.  Did you know that 1 in 10 adults in the US suffer from symptoms of depression? Depression is so common, and so many people could use support and care that aren’t getting enough of either.

Sometimes I feel like I was programmed to live most of my life struggling with depression.  My respective maternal and paternal sides of the family may not like to hear it, nor think about it, and certainly not talk about it, but the reality is the signs and symptoms run rampant on both sides of my genetic family tree.  That’s not to say that I’m blaming anyone, nor even upset.  It’s just how things are.  For many years, I was not willing to use the word depression, nor would I admit I was depressed at any time. I didn’t want to- that stigma that goes along with it just seems to linger and linger now matter how things play out. I’m thankful that today, in modern times, sites like Lifescript.com exist, so that folks who might be struggling with symptoms and may be searching these symptoms online may find help.  Maybe not help, but maybe just seeing that others have experienced the same emotions, felt the same feelings.

There are 1 in 10 adults in the US who live each day feeling depressed.  Maybe it’s not every day, or maybe it’s not all day, but that number is huge.  It’s too high.  When I stop to think about those who can’t afford good healthcare or who don’t have a strong support system, well, it makes me want to cry. Worse, twice as many women experience symptoms of depression than men.

Lifescript.com’s Depression Health Center has a myriad of resources available for free that are broken into 5 main categories- Basics, Living With, Treatment, Resources and News.  Within each category are sub categories- under Basics, for example, you’ll find sub categories that include Facts, Symptoms, Risk and Prevention, Diagnosis, Stages, and Questions for Your Doctor.  Having all of these categories and sub categories can make things much simpler and, in my opinion, more likely to be explored by those of us who might find a lot of information at once to be overwhelming (which also goes along with depression).  Perhaps someone is just wondering if they are experiencing symptoms of Depression, and aren’t sure where to go.  With a few simple clicks, they can focus just on symptoms and not be overwhelmed with a ton of information about treatments and stages and where to go for help.  Not all of us are built to want all of the information at once, and having things broken down can make information like this less daunting.  It’s not like anyone’s ever been excited about having symptoms of depression, you know?  There are so many depression articles available today, thanks to the internet, but too much information can be as overwhelming to folks just as much as too little information can be.

Photo © 2010 J. Ronald Lee

 

I’ve lived with my anxiety and symptoms of depression on and off for most of my life.  Some of it is genetic and quite frankly, some of it is resulting from life experiences, tragedies and losses.  Most recently, my mom died just 13 days before my youngest was born- my youngest, who came 5 1/2 weeks early and by some grace of God, healthy- but me? Notsomuch.  Even when the physical issues were cleared, I was in a deep depression.  So deep, I can’t even remember most of my daughter’s first year. It’s a blur. The sight of food packaging my mom used to buy would set me into tears for hours. Hearing songs she loved, seeing authors she read- I was a puddle of tears in a house full of chaos.  Compounding things was my dad’s dementia progressing- rapidly- into Alzheimer’s Disease, although that official diagnosis change didn’t happen until September of 2012. Trying to learn my new role in the world without my mom in it, to be a daughter to a man who wasn’t sure who I was more often than not, and parenting to three very young children close together in age- all of these combined

My official diganosis is Generalized Anxiety Disorder with what I call a “side” of depression.  Which really just means I’m full of anxiety and prone to depression.  I have worked hard over the years to find ways to work through my symptoms of both the anxiety and depression with tools learned in sessions with therapists (Dr. Bob, this one’s for you!) and, whether I like it or not, medications for treatment.  I’ve learned (the hard way) through trial and error (oh, so many errors) that I need that assistance and have grown to accept that it’s going to just be part of who I am. I’m Brett- I’m me, I find myself funny, I’m a wife, I’m a mom, a sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and a woman living with anxiety and depression.  Please realize that I wasn’t embracing all of these things about myself until I entered my mid-thirties so it isn’t like I’ve just decided this is me and run with it.  I’m still struggling. Sometimes sporadically. Sometimes frequently, sometimes weekly, daily, hourly or minute to minute.  There are still days when no matter what I do, I can’t seem to function properly.  There’s days when I sit and cry in the middle of the floor.  Most times, I can see things starting to spiral downward and I’m able to reach out for help, to my husband, my family, my friends-  or use some of my learned coping mechanisms to ground myself.  Other times, I call  my doctor.  I choose to live with with my depression as a “side” and not what defines me.

Want to find more posts relating to depression? Then be sure you do not miss these articles:

• Symptoms of Depression
• A Woman’s Guide to Depression
• An Expert’s Alternatives to Treat Depression

Lifescript’s Depression Health Center features tips, quizzes, recipes and articles – all by professional health writers, experts and physicians – covering postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, bipolar disorder, how to boost your mood with exercise and more. Please visit the Lifescript Health Center on depression for more information.

And to check out this free website, click here!

This is a sponsored post by me on behalf of Lifescript.com.