If you suffer with depression for an extended time, or if you start thinking about hurting yourself or someone else, you owe yourself a call to a therapist.

Clinical Depression

Women suffer more from depression than men, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. I know men who think this is true because men don’t “give in” to their emotions. Hogwash. Many depressed people force themselves through each day, but the feelings of sadness will not dissipate.

Think of this like acne. If you had a pimple here and a pimple there every once in awhile, you could use concealer. Yes. Even if you were a guy. If, on the other hand, you had horrendous acne on every inch of your face all the time, you should see a doctor.

The mention of a doctor offers depressed people a perfect excuse for not getting treatment. “I can’t afford it.” They say, citing costs of $150 an hour and no insurance. Most cities have clinics that charge for services on a sliding scale. Call the local health department and ask. Perfect baby step. You succeed at that, you can succeed at calling the resources, and making appointments. If you can do that, you can show up, and take part in therapy or find a medicine to help balance your hormones. If you can do all of that, you will know that you can care for yourself, and one day you’ll not only be better … you’ll be self-confident.

Alternatives to Medicine

The reluctance to put chemicals into your body is understandable, and there are herbal supplements that may help just as well. SAM-e and St. John’s Wart, when purchased from quality distributors, have both shown a marked improvement in depression. The problem is that no one but a doctor can tell you if depression is all you have. People with underlying disorders, such as manic-depression, can increase their symptoms by medicating themselves on their own.

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