Depression

Depression is more than just feeling sad for hours or a few days. It’s a feeling of ‘the blues’ or hopelessness that makes it hard to get through the day.



You may be depressed if you:

• Have felt sad for a long time.


• Do not enjoy things that you used to


• Sleep more or less than usual


• Had a change in your appetite causing you to lose weight or gain weight.


• Thought about death or killing yourself.

 If you like hurting yourself, call 911!

 What I can do for my depression?

• Get help.


• Talk with a counselor, a friend or someone in your place of worship.


• Exercise or walk every day.


• Stop smoking, stop drinking alcohol;


• Make an appointment with your doctor’s office or clinic.


• If you are given medicine:

• Take the medicine every day. It can take several weeks for the medicine to work.


• Even if you are feeling better, do not stop taking your medicine.


• Sometimes you may need two medicines.

Reference: Heath TiPS from the ACP Foundation. American College of Physicians. Internal Medicine. http://www.acponline.org/patients_families/products/health_tips/