Yesterday I told you about a most interesting new international study (see BBC report), that shows that regardless of your nationality, your gender, your marital status, income level or whether you have reproduced, the 40’s are the most likely time for you to experience depression.
So what is depression anyway? According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th ed. (DSM-IV), the bible of psychological diagnosis in many countries, a major depressive episode consists of 5 or more of the following symptoms during the same 2 week period:
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depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day
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markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
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significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day
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insomnia nearly every day
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psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly every day
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fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day
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feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inapproriate guilt (which may be delusional) nearly every day
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diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness nearly every day
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recurrent thoughts of death with recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide
These symptoms must cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning, and not be the direct physiological effects of a substance, such as drugs or a medical condition.
Before I got a degree in psychology, I always wondered how depression was defined. Afterwards I was surprised to find I had already experienced it once before in my life.
I give you this information because I know many of you are in your late 30’s, 40s and 50s, and may be experiencing depression right now.
Please seek help! You do not have to go through this alone.
There are others with extensive training who can help you to improve your quality of life. This is not the end of the world, it is simply time to get help in ending your constant pain. Your body and mind are telling you that things need to change for the better, and your first step towards that change is seeking help from those who really understand what is happening inside of you. They can give you the help you need to move on to a much better stage of life. There are millions living better lives through anti-depressants and therapy.
Why are we more vulnerable to depression at midlife? I think it is because we have generally “done what we were told” up until now. We got a job/career, got married, perhaps had kids, tried to live the American dream.
At midlife we begin to see that one size definitely does not fit all. Our unique and amazing true self emerges and starts to make all sorts of demands! Our intuition, the voice within or our “gut feelings” tell us that we have lost our way. Up until now we were taught to ignore the voice within, but now it starts shouting out loud and clear, and it won’t take “NO” for an answer.
It says follow your bliss, find your right livelihood, seek out the love that you’ve been craving for so long. You deserve this for once in your life!
It takes a lot of energy to ignore this voice! Best to just give it a listen, and see where it can take you!
