Telltale Signs It’s Time to Treat Your Depression

Depression is a serious illness with varying degrees. When it’s mild, it makes some areas of a person’s life challenging, according to Deborah Serani, PsyD, a clinical psychologist who specializes in treating mood disorders. Mild depression typically doesn’t require professional help. It usually abates with holistic methods, such as exercise, meditation and light therapy, she said. When it’s moderate, it significantly hampers daily life. When it’s severe, it becomes life threatening and requires immediate intervention, she said. “Without oversimplifying things too much, I generally look at how much your symptoms are affecting your relationships, your daily activities, and how you think and feel,” said Lee H. Coleman, Ph.D., ABPP, a clinical psychologist and assistant director and director of training at the California Institute of Technology’s student counseling center. Some people might not realize they’re dealing with depression, but they might notice that they just don’t feel like themselves, he said. According to Serani, it’s time to seek treatment when your depression is moderate, and makes it difficult to function on a daily basis. You might have trouble getting to school or work and keeping up with tasks and assignments. You might want to isolate yourself from others, she said. These are additional obvious and not-so obvious signs that it’s time to seek help: You have thoughts of suicide. “People may have a passing thought from time to t...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatrists and Psychologists Authors: Tags: Depression Disorders General Mental Health and Wellness Self-Esteem Self-Help Stress Deborah Serani Depression (mood) Depressive Symptoms Fatigue Illness Lee H. Coleman Major Depressive Disorder Mild Depression Mood Disorder Source Type: blogs