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Brief periods of sadness happen at times because life happens. But a major depressive episode lasts longer than two weeks. The individual feels depressed most of the time or loses interest or pleasure in most activities. Children and adolescents may show irritability rather than sadness. The depressed person will also show other symptoms that are described in the following table, How Do You Know You're Depressed? Ethnicity, education, income, and marital status are unrelated to the prevalence of depression. However, gender is. Women show depressive moods more than men do. Yet many depressed men are more likely to be irritable rather than sad, when depressed. Consequently, their depression may go unrecognized and untreated. Depression does not indicate a moral or spiritual failing. Many people are genetically predisposed to becoming depressed. A depressed person is more likely to have a parent, child, and/or sibling who has been depressed. Chronic stress, trauma, other anxiety disorders, attention deficit, learning disabilities, eating disorders, social rejection, major loss, general medical conditions, and family problems are just some of the situations that can lead to depression. |
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Everyone's moods fluctuate in reaction to stress, good news, disappointments, humor, hormone shifts, fatigue, worry, and affection. A person's moods can even change several times within a single day. Normal moods are temporary and/or connected to specific events. When the event has passed, the mood slowly returns to normal. Extremely stressful events, such as divorce, can have a permanent impact that can be considered normal. Having a bipolar disorder refers to having moods that change more extremely and might or might not be intiated by an event. How moods change varies. An individual may have mania or hypomania which swings into depression, then swings again into a normal mood, then swings again into mania or hypomania. Another person may cycle between a normal mood and depression. Mood swings happen frequently, or they may occur once or twice a year or less. Most people with bipolar disorder have more problems with depression than hypomania or mania. Medication helps many who have bipolar disorder, but whether or not medication will help, a therapist who understands bipolar and the most effective treatments improves long term progress of treatment. Dr. Miller specializes in bipolar disorder and collaborates with the client's medication prescriber as part of the treatment. |
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Seasonal Affective Disorder |
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A person having Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) experiences an episode of depression at a specific time of year. Usually the episode will occur in fall or winter and subside or end in spring. However, some will experience SAD in the summer. A person experiencing depression with SAD tends to have low energy, sleeps more than normal, overeats, craves sweets and starchy foods, and gains weight. |
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I lead a grief support group on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month from 10:00 to 11:30. Group members provide a safe forum to express grief through emotional support and practical suggestions. The group meets at Calvin Presbyterian Church, 10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, Oregon 97224-4811. There is no fee to attend. You may inquire at the church office 503.639.3273, or contact me with the information listed on the Contact Us page. I also provide individual and family therapy for grief and loss. |
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