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Symptoms

Depression is more than just feeling down or having a bad day. When a sad mood lasts for a long time and interferes with normal, everyday functioning, you may be depressed. Some types of mood disorders along with depression include Bipolar disorder, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), and Self-harm. 

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Symptoms of depression include:

  • Feeling sad or anxious often or all the time

  • Not wanting to do activities that used to be fun

  • Feeling irritable‚ easily frustrated‚ or restless

  • Having trouble falling asleep or staying asleep

  • Waking up too early or sleeping too much

  • Eating more or less than usual or having no appetite

  • Experiencing aches, pains, headaches, or stomach problems that do not improve with treatment

  • Having trouble concentrating, remembering details, or making decisions

  • Feeling tired‚ even after sleeping well

  • Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless

  • Thinking about suicide or hurting yourself

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Anxiety disorders often go hand in hand with depression. People who have anxiety disorders struggle with intense and uncontrollable feelings of anxiety, fear, worry, and/or panic. These feelings can interfere with daily activities. Types of anxiety disorders include panic disorders, phobias, and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD). 

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​Symptoms of anxiety disorders include:

  • Feeling nervous, restless or tense

  • Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom

  • Having an increased heart rate

  • Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)

  • Sweating

  • Trembling

  • Feeling weak or tired

  • Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry

  • Having trouble sleeping

  • Experiencing gastrointestinal (GI) problems

  • Having difficulty controlling worry

  • Having the urge to avoid things that trigger anxiety

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Treatment

  • Therapy: many people benefit from psychotherapy—also called therapy or counseling. Click on our "counseling" tab to learn more!

  • Medication: many people with depression or anxiety find that taking prescribed medications can help improve their mood and coping skills. Talk to your doctor or a psychiatrist about whether they are right for you.

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Statistics

  • In 2019, just prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, 19.86% of adults experienced a mental illness, equivalent to nearly 50 million Americans (every 1 out of 5).

  • Studies estimate that a whopping 22 percent of Oklahomans suffer some form of mental illness, which is the third-highest rate in the U.S.

  • 15.08% of youth experienced a major depressive episode in the past year

  • Over 2.5 million youth in the U.S. have severe depression, with 10.6% of youth in the U.S. having severe major depression (depression that severely affects functioning). The rate of severe depression was highest among youth who identified as more than one race, at 14.5% (more than one out of 7).

  • Over half of adults with a mental illness do not receive treatment, totaling over 27 million adults in the U.S. who are going untreated.

  • Over 60% of youth with major depression do not receive any mental health treatment. In Texas, the bottom-ranked state for this indicator, nearly three-quarters of youth with depression did not receive mental health treatment. 

  • Nationally, fewer than 1 in 3 youth with severe depression receive consistent mental health care. 

  • Clinical depression is the number 1 predictor of suicide. 

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Help a Friend

Because millions of people in the U.S. live with a mental health condition, you likely encounter people with a mental illness in your family or in your daily life. However, if you are unsure of how best to approach someone who may be struggling, these tips may help.

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Suggestions on how you may approach someone living with a mental health condition:

  • Talk to them in a space that is comfortable, where you won’t likely be interrupted and where there are likely minimal distractions.

  • Ease into the conversation, gradually. It may be that the person is not in a place to talk, and that is OK. Greeting them and extending a gentle kindness can go a long way. 

  • Be sure to speak in a relaxed and calm manner.

  • Communicate in a straightforward manner and stick to one topic at a time.

  • Be respectful, compassionate and empathetic to their feelings by engaging in reflective listening, such as “I hear that you are having a bad day today. Yes, some days are certainly more challenging than others. I understand.”

  • Instead of directing the conversation at them with ‘you’ statements, use ‘I’ statements instead.

  • Be a good listener, be responsive and make eye contact with a caring approach.

  • Ask them appropriate questions and avoid prying.

  • Give them the opportunity to talk and open up but don’t press.

  • Share some easy insights as a way of encouraging easy conversation, such as comments about the weather, the community or other.

  • Reduce any defensiveness by sharing your feelings and looking for common ground.

  • Speak at a level appropriate to their age and development level. Keep in mind that mental illness has nothing to do with a person’s intelligence.

  • Be aware of a person becoming upset or confused by your conversation with them.

  • Show respect and understanding for how they describe and interpret their symptoms.

  • Genuinely express your concern.

  • Offer your support and connect them to help if you feel that they need it. Ask, “How can I help?” if appropriate, or even, “Can I pray with you now?” if appropriate.

  • Give the person hope for recovery, offer encouragement and prayers.

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Things to Avoid Saying:

  • “Just pray about it.”

  • “You just need to change you’re attitude.”

  • “Stop harping on the negative, you should just start living.”

  • “Everyone feels that way sometimes.”

  • “You have the same illness as my (whoever).”

  • “Yes, we all feel a little crazy now and then.”

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Things to Avoid Doing:

  • Criticizing blaming or raising your voice at them.

  • Talking too much, too rapidly, too loudly. Silence and pauses are ok.

  • Showing any form of hostility towards them.

  • Assuming things about them or their situation.

  • Being sarcastic or making jokes about their condition.

  • Patronizing them or saying anything condescending. 

  • Making their struggles about you. 

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Read more here.

Psalm 23:4

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
   I will fear no evil, for you are with me;  your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

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