By Dr. Irina Fiksman

Depression affects at least 16 per cent of adults at some point in their lives making it one of the most common human afflictions.

Left untreated, depression can cause unimaginable suffering; properly diagnosed and treated it carries good prognosis and excellent chances of improvement. And, just like with any other illness, the earlier the treatment is started the better is the outcome.

Seek help if you often feel:

• sad, blue, unhappy or "down in the dumps" or that your mood is like a roller coaster;
• little or no enjoyment from things you used to love;
• disappointed or disgusted with yourself;
• easily annoyed or irritated and hopeless or pessimistic about your future;
• that your life is worthless or meaningless;
• like you are falling apart and going to pieces;
• you just can’t make yourself care about people and issues you used to feel passionate about;
• old, empty and carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders;
• so tired all the time that everything you do is an effort;
• so self-conscious with others that you avoid social interactions;
• that it takes great effort for you to do simple things or make simple decisions.

 

Seek help if you have noticed recent changes in your:

• sleeping or eating habits (too little, too much or erratic);
• sexual functioning, such as a decreased interest in sex or sexual difficulties;

or if you frequently

• have difficulties completing your normal workload;
• are getting into frequent arguments;
• cry, sometimes for no reason at all;
• dread getting out of bed to face another day;
• have persistent worry about different things;
• think about death and suspect that others would be better off if you were dead;
• spend time thinking about HOW you might kill yourself;
• view yourself as socially inept, personally unappealing or inferior to others.