Depression

Looking ahead to next week's meeting, the subject matter will be depression. Now, I know you might be thinking, "Oh, I can't wait to get to that one. What fun that will be. We can all sit around and talk about how sad we are, and shed a few tears." And, if that be the case, we always manage to have a box of Kleenex there. But, haven't we always shared some laughter amidst our grief as well?

Depression isn't just a case of the "blues". According to Merriam-Webster dictionary, depression is: " a psychoneurotic or psychotic disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity, difficulty in thinking and concentration, a significant increase or decrease in appetite and time spent sleeping, feelings of dejection and hopelessness, and sometimes suicidal tendencies ". When left untreated, depression can cause further emotional and physical damage.

Depression is normal when dealing with grief. A feeling of sadness is expected. However, when it becomes prolonged is when the problem arises. Self-evaluations may be done online by answering a few simple questions. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, please seek support from a group, trusted friend or counselor.