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 “down”
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 “Symptoms of
Major Depression”; www.save.org
HELP
NUMBERS
For
help or more information contact any of the following individuals, groups, or
agencies:
--Guidance Counselors—
| High School | Katie Fistler | 421-4426 (Mason City Alternative School) | |
| Dave Jacobson | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Dusty Rhodes | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Karla Wymore | 421-4432 (Mason City High School) | ||
| Middle School | Sara Bucknam | 421-4423 (Roosevelt Middle School) | |
| Gina Friederich | 421-4420 (John Adams Middle Schoo) | ||
| Elementary | Sarah Despenas | 421-4406 (Harding) or 421-4411 (Jefferson) |
|
| Kay Erland | 421-4408 (Hoover) or 421-4415 (Roosevelt) |
--Family physician or local/area clinic
--Family services, social
agencies, or clergy
--Check the phone book under
“mental health”, “health”, “social services”, “hotlines” or “physicians” 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 “hotline”. 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/nimhdepression.pdf
National Alliance on Mental
Illness
(NAMI)
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
http://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 “Symptoms of
Major Depression”; www.save.org