Welcome to Self Help and Wellness
Postpartum Depression Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
You may also listen to this article by using the following controls.
Depression Test
from: Self Help and WellnessSometimes it can be difficult distinguishing between the normal emotional ups and downs that people experience as part of life and depression. But when you begin to suspect that you should feel much better than you do about yourself and your world, taking a depression test can provide important direction.
Depression does not have one form. It can take many different forms in terms of symptoms, and no two people are alike. But there are certain symptoms that frequently occur and can serve as measures of your emotional status. If nothing else, taking a depression test can help you decide if you need to see a doctor. Another benefit of utilizing a depression test as a barometer of your emotional state is that if you are experiencing depression, it may be hard for you to define your symptoms.
The depression test is merely a checklist of symptoms you identify as being applicable to your situation. It can be amazing how many people are actually unaware they have a mild case of depression or don't realize how much their life has changed due to depression. There are so many manifestations of depression that it's impossible to list them all.
The depression test can be used by the person who suspects they are experiencing depression or by family or friends who aren't sure how to recognize depression in someone they love. It's important to identify depression as early as possible, because depression will get worse. The general rule of thumb is to consider if you have experienced several of any of the following symptoms for longer than 2 weeks.
* Thoughts your life is spiraling out of control
* Believing your life is unimportant
* Convinced no one would miss you if you were to die
* Can't make any decisions -- even small ones
* Don't anticipate anything at all as being enjoyable
* Feeling ashamed all the time
* Experiencing frequent and unexplained crying
* Can't enjoy being with friends or attending events
* Stopped exercising
* Giving up things once enjoyed
* Avoiding people whenever possible
* Feeling alone all the time
* Doesn't enjoy being with family anymore
* Feeling like no one understands you
* Losing appetite
* Unable to sleep or sleeping too much
* Having no energy
The depression test can include many more symptoms, but this gives you a good idea of the kinds of things you would take into consideration. As you can tell from the list, depression affects a lot more than just your emotions. It can affect your body and your relationships too.
Once you take the depression test, the next step is to begin tracking the mood changes. By creating a mood diary, there's now something very tangible and quite convincing to show a doctor or therapist. It also provides you a clear picture of what's happening and that can be very therapeutic in itself.
Postpartum Depression News
Mother breaks silence on postpartum depression (The Lincoln-Way Sun) - Examiner.com
Mother breaks silence on postpartum depression (The Lincoln-Way Sun) Examiner.com - Tiny Brian Dombrowski was only days old when his Tinley Park mom thought of dropping him on top of a glass table so he'd stop crying. ... |
A mother's struggle with postpartum depression - Southtown Star
A mother's struggle with postpartum depression Southtown Star, IL - Dombrowski has transformed a journal detailing the traumatic birth of her son and her struggle with postpartum depression into a book, “Back to You,” to ... Blogs a way to heal from, vent about postpartum |
Understanding Postpartum Depression - Atlantic County Woman
 Atlantic County Woman | Understanding Postpartum Depression Atlantic County Woman, NJ - Postpartum Depression is the most common complication of childbirth, affecting 15-20% of women. Relatedly, depression during pregnancy is more common than ... |
Motherly malaise - Scarlet Scuttlebutt
Motherly malaise Scarlet Scuttlebutt, NJ - Many of us are familiar with postpartum depression, or PPD, because the wife of former New Jersey Governor Richard Codey, Mary Jo Codey, raised the public's ... |
Fathers Dealing with Postpartum Depression - Meadow Free Press
Fathers Dealing with Postpartum Depression Meadow Free Press, ID - According to the study, about fourteen percent of mothers and around ten percent of fathers suffer from moderate to severe postpartum depression. ... |
Treating postpartum depression - 7Online.com
Treating postpartum depression 7Online.com, NY - It is also important to remember that depression can also affect a woman before, during or after pregnancy. You speak from experience. ... |