A depressive illness is a “whole body” illness, involving your body, mood, thoughts and behavior. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. A depressive illness is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely “pull themselves together” and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help over 80 percent of those who suffer from depression.
Am I Depressed?

For a major depressive disorder, at least five of the following symptoms are present during the same time period, and at least one of the first two symptoms must be present:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
• Feelings of pessimism or hopelessness
• Feelings of helplessness, guilt, or worthlessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities once enjoyed, including sex
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being “slowed down”
• Thoughts of death or suicide, suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Persistent physical symptoms thath do not respond to treatment such as headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain

If you are experiencing five or more of these symptoms, give Banyan Counseling Center a call for help today. A significant number of people with mild depression obtain substantial symptom relief with psychotherapy and feel better within the first few weeks. By incorporating Thought Field Therapy, a new body-energy technique, results can be dramatic!