DEPRESSION--WARNING SIGNS

HELP NUMBERS & Helpful Web Sites

Disclaimer: Online information found here is made available so that individuals may find out whether consultation with a counselor or doctor may be helpful. This is a help site and is not intended to provide treatment, diagnosis, or consultation. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

What is Depression?

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression is common. About 15% of the population develops clinical depression at some time in their life. 

 

Fortunately, depression is treatable. Depression is among the most treatable of mental illnesses. Current treatment includes medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.

 

WARNING SIGNS OF DEPRESSION* (Adolescents)

 

Not all people with depression will show all symptoms or have them to the same degree. If a person has four or more symptoms, for more than two weeks, consult a doctor or mental health professional right away.

 

Depression In Adolescents*

--Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, neck aches, arms or legs hurt due to muscle tension, digestive disorders. (ruling out other medical causes)

--Persistent unhappiness, negativity, irritability. Sadness or ÒdownÓ mood.

--Uncontrollable anger or outbursts of rage.

--Overly self-critical, unwarranted guilt, low self-esteem.

--Inability to concentrate, think straight, remember, or make decisions, possibly resulting in refusal to study in school or an inability (due to depression or attention deficit disorder) to do schoolwork.

--Slowed or hesitant speech or body movements, or restlessness (anxiety).

--Loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.

--Low energy, chronic fatigue, sluggishness, or feeling tired.

--Change in appetite, noticeable weight loss or weight gain, or abnormal eating patterns.

--Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep or sleeping too much.

--Chronic worry, excessive fear.

--Preoccupation with death themes in literature, music, drawings, speaking of death repeatedly, fascination with guns/knives.

--Suicidal thoughts, plans, or attempts. Thoughts of being better off dead or hurting oneself.

Depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as, eating disorders such as anorexia or bulimia, drug/alcohol abuse, sexual promiscuity, risk-taking behavior such as reckless driving, unprotected sex, carelessness when walking across busy streets, on bridges or cliffs. There may be social isolation, running away, constant disobedience, getting into trouble with the law, physical or sexual assaults against others, obnoxious behavior, failure to care about appearance/hygiene, no sense of self or of values/morals, difficulty cultivating relationships, inability to establish/stick with occupational/educational goals.

 

*Warning signs from ÒSymptoms of Major DepressionÓ; www.save.org

 

HELP NUMBERS

For help or more information contact any of the following individuals, groups, or agencies:

--Guidance Counselors—

High School

Middle School
Elementary

--Family physician or local/area clinic

--Mental Health Center of North Iowa— 641-424-2075, 1-800-700-4692

 

--Family services, social agencies, or clergy

--Check the phone book under Òmental healthÓ, ÒhealthÓ, Òsocial servicesÓ, ÒhotlinesÓ or ÒphysiciansÓ for phone numbers and addresses. 

An emergency room doctor also can provide temporary help and can tell you where and how to get further help.

 

 

FOR AFTER HOURS HELP CALL:

24 Hours Daily—Confidential--Free

         National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

  

Teen Help Line: 1-800-443-8336

 

Teen Help Line is not a crisis or ÒhotlineÓ. The line provides health information & referral services for Iowa teens.

 

If you are thinking of harming yourself or know someone who is, tell someone who can help immediately.

--Call your doctor.
--Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.
--Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline number for the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
--Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.

 

 

If you are thinking of harming yourself or know someone who is, tell someone who can help immediately.

      --Call your doctor.

         --Call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room to get immediate help or ask a friend or family member to help you do these things.

         --Call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline number for the

         National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255

         --Make sure you or the suicidal person is not left alone.

 

Helpful Links for More Information On Depression

 

Scroll down the page to find web sites about depression.

 

National Institute of Mental Health

www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/depression/complete-publication.shtml

 

National Alliance on Mental Illness  (NAMI)

www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=54&ContentID=23039&lstid=326

 

Mental Health America

www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/depression

 

American Psychiatric Association (APA)

www.healthyminds.org/factsheets/LTF-Depression.pdf

 

Teens Health

www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/depression.html

www.kidshealth.org/teen/your_mind/feeling_sad/depression_tips.html

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

www.dbsalliance.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Signs_symptoms

 

American Psychology Association

www.apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=49

 

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education

www.save.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.viewPage&page_id=7025EAA4-D9D5-34CC-452DC6B57AF18483

 

Child and Adolescent Bipolar Foundation

www.depressedteens.org

 

Depression In Children*

--Uncontrollable anger with aggressive or destructive behavior, possibly hitting themselves or others, kicking or self-biting or head banging.

--Harming animals.

--Continual disobedience.

--Easily frustrated, frequent crying, low self-esteem, overly sensitive.

--Inability to pay attention, remember, or make decisions, easily distracted, mind goes blank.

--Energy fluctuations from lethargic to frenzied activity, with periods of normalcy.

--Eating or sleeping problems.

--Bedwetting, constipation, diarrhea.

--Impulsiveness, accident-prone.

--Chronic worry & fear, clingy, panic attacks.

--Extreme self-consciousness.

--Slowed speech & body movements.

--Disorganized speech - hard to follow when telling you a story, etc.

--Physical symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, stomachaches, arms or legs ache, nail-biting, pulling out hair or eyelashes. (ruling out other medical causes)

--Suicidal talk or attempts.

In children, depressive illnesses/anxiety may be disguised as, or presented as, school phobia or school avoidance, social phobia or social avoidance, excessive separation anxiety, running away, obsessions, compulsions, or everyday rituals, such as having to go to bed at the exact time each night for fear something bad may happen. Chronic illnesses may be present also since depression weakens the immune system. Other signs include persistent unhappiness, negativity, complaining, chronic boredom, and no initiative.

 

*Warning signs from ÒSymptoms of Major DepressionÓ; www.save.org

 

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