National Depression Screening Day is held on Thursday, during the first full week of October. It’s part of Mental Health Awareness Week, which endeavors to educate people about mental health and give people who need help the resources that they need. This National Depression Screening Day, take the time to consider whether you or a loved one might need a depression treatment program in Northern IL.
The Symptoms of Depression
Everyone gets sad or apathetic once in a while, but depression is deeper. If your issues with sadness or apathy are impacting your life, then it’s time to get help. Here are some of the major symptoms:
- You’ve experienced significant sleep changes. That includes either sleeping far more than you usually do, or not being able to sleep at all. Some people have chronic insomnia or generally need more sleep, but a change in sleep patterns is concerning.
- You aren’t able to concentrate. You may see your work product or your school performance slip, and you may have a hard time focusing in general.
- You no longer enjoy your favorite hobbies. How long has it been since you did something that you truly enjoy? If you’ve lost interest in hobbies, it’s a sign something else could be wrong.
- Your mood has soured. Are you angry and irritable most of the time? Do you feel yourself becoming more easily frustrated? Becoming short-tempered and frustrated is a sign that you are depressed or have low energy levels.
- You’re feeling like there isn’t any hope. You feel like there’s nothing that you’re heading toward, that you’re without goals, or that you’re otherwise aimless.
Depression can develop for many reasons. It can happen for no reason at all, or it could be a product of your current environment. During National Depression Screening Day 2019, consider whether you might need help for your depression.
Getting Help for Depression
Depression is generally treated through a combination of medication and therapy. Medication is used in many different ways, but generally, to encourage your body to either produce more “happiness”-stimulating chemicals or to use those chemicals correctly. Meanwhile, therapy is used to pare down to the reasons behind your depression, and to give you better mood management skills.
The mechanisms by which depression occurs are complex, and it’s different for everyone. If you or a loved one is experiencing depression, consider searching for a dual diagnosis treatment center in Northern Illinois. While depression can be devastating, it’s usually manageable with the appropriate treatment.
What to Do on Depression Screening Day 2019
On National Depression Screening Day 2019, you can get a free and anonymous screening for depression and related illnesses. Some other illnesses include PTSD, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, and other mood-related disorders. There are many clinics and health care facilities that run free screenings; you can look up the screenings that are available in your community.
During a depression screening, a mental health professional will ask you questions about your mood, how long your issues have persisted, and the severity of these issues. There are often both off-line and online options for depression health screening, and the ultimate goal will be to make sure that you are properly diagnosed and can move ahead with any necessary treatment plans.
If you don’t suffer from depression, you can help someone else get a screening on National Depression Screening Day. Educate your friends and family regarding the fact that screenings are available, or even offer to take a friend or family member who is struggling. You can even show up at events to further awareness or volunteer to hand out flyers and perform other awareness-focused tasks.
Many people suffer from depression today and don’t realize it. But there is help available. Northern Illinois Recovery has comprehensive services available for those who are struggling. Contact us today at 855.786.1978 to find out more.
