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Sparkle (1)
Many people will be surprised when they find out that I have suffered major depression for most of my life. Although there are many types of depression, they are usually distinguished between depression and major depression.
By the time I had reached my early twenties I had suffered at least three episodes of depression. Over the next thirty years I had multiple breakdowns and was diagnosed with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).I had been treated for it with medications and most of the time it seemed successful at least until the next occurance. Each episode seemed to get longer and more difficult to deal with.
In 2003 it lasted for a three month period and I found that it strange that it had started in the summer, questioning the SAD theory that I had been given. The summer of 2006 the depression returned again this time the episode was not going to go away and again was during the summer months.
I started seeking answers to what was going on. How could I have SAD when I seemed to start these occurances during the sunny days. The medical professionals decided to go back into my file and re-examine there diagnosis.
They realized that I actually had been suffereing major depression bi-polar disease and we began a treatment program. I only wish that I had questioned three years earlier the diagnosis that I was given it may have saved me the past two and a half years that I have had to undergo an emotional rollercoaster. We tried multiple medications and each one took months to find out if they were going to work or have to start again with the process. When I was struggling to find answers I found some of the following information regarding depression.
I hope this will make others understand how difficult this disease truly is either to live with or have someone in your family suffering with it.
“Major depressive disorder, also known as major depression, unipolar depression, clinical depression, or simply depression, is a mental disorder characterized by a pervasive low mood and loss of interest or pleasure in usual activities. The diagnosis is made if a person has suffered one or more major depressive episodes. Diagnosis is based on the patient's self-reported experiences and observed behavior. There is no laboratory test for major depression, although physicians often test for physical conditions that may cause similar symptoms before arriving at a diagnosis. The course varies widely, from a one-off occurrence to a lifelong disorder with recurrent episodes.” As per the Wikipidia.
But how does that possibly affect us and what kind of symptoms should we be looking at? According to many psychiatric professionals any change or increase in any of the following should be reported to your physician.
ü DELAY IN FALLING ASLEEP AND RESTLESS SLEEPING
ü WAKING UP TO EARLY
ü SLEEPING TOO MUCH
ü FEELING SAD
ü FEELING OVERPOWERED
ü DECREASED OR INCREASED APPETITE
ü
