emotions, and Wedner has seen the therapy work wonders.
“Many children think they’re the only people in the world with asthma, and that can be very depressing,” he points out. Counseling helps them understand that they’re not alone, a revelation that bolsters their mood and the ability to fight the disease.
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How to tell if you’re truly depressed?
If you feel down for two weeks or longer and you experience at least five of the following symptoms every day you’re probably depressed:
- feeling overwhelming sadness, anxiety, or “empty” feelings
- feeling hopeless and despairing about the future
- feeling guilty, ashamed, worthless, or helpless
- loss of interest in normal activities such as eating and sex; lack of enjoyment in activities that used to be pleasurable
- trouble making decisions, remembering, and concentrating
- changes in sleep patterns — usually waking extra early or difficulty falling asleep, but sometimes oversleeping
- loss of appetite and weight loss, or overeating and weight gain
- fatigue, loss of energy, lack of motivation
- feeling unusually irritable and restless or slow and lethargic
- thoughts of suicide or death
- recurrent physical symptoms, such as chronic pain, headaches, or digestive disorders that don’t go away with treatment
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Depression can also cause you to withdraw from friends and family (a young person may act rebellious or antisocial) or to lose touch with reality (in an older person, depression may resemble dementia).
Symptoms of bipolar disorder may include:
- inappropriate elation
- inappropriate irritability
- severe insomnia
- disconnected and racing thoughts
- grandiose notions
- inappropriate social behavior
- dramatic increases in energy or talking
What should you do if you think you’re depressed?
A good place to start is with your doctor. He or she may do an exam and run tests to rule out underlying physical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, that can cause similar symptoms.
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If your doctor thinks you may be depressed, you’ll probably want to talk to a therapist to discuss your options.