Brought to you by Lynda Stockwell – M.S.W./R.S.W 

Important Considerations of any type of therapeutic advice

This advice is general and should be viewed with the intent that this will not support every case. Lynda advises based on a general experience. If you are in this situation you may want to see your Doctor or health care provider. This advice is something that you may help to support you in your effort

There are key symptoms of depression that help practitioners diagnose it.  Here is a list of questions to consider when you are considering if you may or may not have depression: 

• Are you having trouble sleeping?
• Has there been a change in your appetite?
• Are you experiencing a lack of energy?
• Are you irritable?
• Are you having trouble concentrating?
• Are you finding generally a lack of enjoyment in activities that you previously found enjoyable?

If you have been experiencing  these problems for more than two weeks and they are intense enough to affect your every day life, it is important for you to see your family doctor to discuss your symptoms.

If you think that you are just feeling down then there are things that you can be doing to help yourself.  The nice thing about the following suggestions is that they are an intermediate step to take to help determine if you are in need of further help.  These suggestions may have a positive impact and help you to combat your ‘slump’.  Here they are:

• Firstly, identify the triggers for your feelings.  If there are negative thoughts or patterns that result from ‘triggers’ then try to identify them and come up with strategies to offset those triggers when they come up.  Remember….Action combats depression
• Try to recognize when you are having thoughts or negative thinking patterns.  Challenge those negative thoughts or patterns with more reasonable ones
• Try to talk to people about how you are feeling, such as family members, a good friend or even a therapist can be helpful

Consider This…

The mind operates in patterns.  If you want to change a pattern of behaviour or reduce a negative response that sets you into a state of mind that is unhealthy, then create new patterns of healthy responses.  Find your trigger ‘patterns’ and make an effort to change the way you see those things so that you can operate  in a better state of mind.  Compassion towards others is always a good way to reduce suffering of the mind.  If none of this helps, please see your doctor for a comprehensive assessment and a path to solutions that work for you.