The sky is falling or maybe you are just depressed

Its not the wheelchair, the lead dog or chemotherapy that ranks the highest patients with disabilities between the age of 15 and 44.

Approximately 14.8 million American adults have been diagnosed with major depressive disorder this year. My sister was one of the 14.8 million people. She dropped out of college, dated men who mistreated her, gained a lot of weight, stopped associating with friends and left the Church.

Why? How can we catch the symptoms of depression before they become a major disorder? If a person has five or more of these symptoms, for over two weeks then something may be wrong:

Agitation, restlessness, and irritability
Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
Extreme difficulty concentrating
Fatigue and lack of energy
Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt
Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities, a loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
Thoughts of death or suicide
Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

These symptoms can be treated by making the person aware of them. Seek counseling, advice from a doctor, medication, or a change in lifestyle. Be aware of yourself and others around you. My sister used her depression as an excuse instead of something to overcome.