Are You Depressed or Stressed?

What Depresses You, Stresses You

Depression as a chronic emotional disorder is an especially stressful experience. We experience stress when mental feelings and physical sensations signal that we are aroused and are reacting to some internal and/or external force. Depression is one of those internal experiences that, when left untreated, can cause further distress.

Are You Depressing or Stressing?

If you are experiencing sleep disturbances, agitation, distractibility, and feelings of arousal or being overwhelmed, it is likely that acute stress is ailing you. The experience of acute stress does not involve feeling hopeless and/or helpless. Yet these are hallmarks of depression.

Chronic depression involves:

· Persistent feelings of sadness, isolation, and/or anxiety

· Feeling hopelessness and/or helplessness

· General guilt and/or worthlessness

· Loss of energy, motivation, or interest - even in fun and pleasurable activities

· Trouble sleeping or waking up too early

· Increased or decreased appetite

· Chronic forgetfulness, impaired concentration, or decision making

· Irritability and impatience towards others

· Excessive and irrational emotionality

· Chronic aches and pains with no real physical cause

Treat Yourself to Treating Depression

These symptoms for chronic depression do not necessarily signify a psychiatric condition. They may relate to the body's chemical changes caused by some underlying physical disease.

TAKE NOTE: If you have five or more of the above symptoms for more than two consecutive weeks, or if these symptoms interfere with family, work, and personal interests, do not diagnose yourself or draw your own conclusions. This is the time to seek an expert's advice.

Remember, seeking professional assistance is vital to your depression, your health and your well-being. Like most medical conditions, it is highly treatable.

We often become our own worst enemies in avoiding or denying our symptoms. Denial is not a river in Egypt. In fact denial can, and often does, lead to greater harm. So pay attention to your body when it speaks to you in symptoms.

Treat yourself to treatment - when your symptoms are telling you that you need to.