Depression

What is depression?

It is normal to feel sad for a few days or even a few weeks after a major life event, such as a death in the family, divorce, relocation, or loss of a job. However, people can usually recover from such grief, pain or sadness. Sadness differs from clinical depression in that depression leads to feelings of hopelessness, sorrow, and anxiety that can last for many months or years. A further differentiating factor is that clinical depression, when untreated, can lead to physical ailments, impaired functioning in daily social, academic, and work routines, and suicide. More importantly, clinical depression, when compared to just feeling the “blues” can be accompanied by feelings of elation (mania) or psychotic features such a delusions, paranoia. When clinical depression is accompanied by manic episodes, the depression is known as Bipolar Disorder.

What causes depression?

Although many psychiatrists will agree that clinical depression is a medical condition, they cannot agree on an exact trigger. Some experts will agree that clinical depression can be triggered by stress, anxiety, hormonal changes, chemical imbalances in the brain, chronic pain, and a family history of the disorder.

How do I know if I or someone I know is suffering from clinical depression?

Here are some signs that you or someone you know may be suffering from depression as provided by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Please seek professional help if you or someone you know has been experiencing at least 5 of the following symptoms for at least two weeks; the symptoms represent a change from previous functioning, and at least one of the symptoms is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure:

• Depressed mood – feeling sad or empty most of the day, nearly every day or appears tearful (Children and adolescents can present an irritable mood)
• Diminished interest or pleasure- Markedly diminished pleasure or interest in all , or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day
• Significant weight loss (When Not Dieting) or gain- Increase or decrease of 5% of body weight in a month, or increase or decrease in appetite nearly every day (In children consider failure to make expected weight gains)
• Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly every day- Sleeping more or less than usual
• Psychomotor retardation or agitation nearly everyday- feeling restless, nervous or irritable
• Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day- feeling very tired or lethargic
• Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt (these feelings may be delusional) nearly every day
• Diminished ability to think or concentrate, indecisiveness, nearly every day
• Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide

Who Can I call if I think that I or someone I know is suffering from depression?

Bishop Montgomery HS students and their parents may contact the CHOICES office for consultation. The CHOICES counselors can refer you to a specialist who can help.

You can reach one of the CHOICES counselors at (310) 540-2021, X248.

If you have an emergency, please dial 911.

In the South Bay you can contact the following Clinics:

Del Amo Hospital Behavioral Health System of Southern California
23700 Camino del Sol
Torrance, CA 90505
(310) 530-1151
https://www.delamotreatment.com/indexnew.html

Harbor-UCLA Medical Center (310) 222-3151
South Bay Mental Health Clinic (323) 241-6730
Mental Health Urgent Care Center (562) 790-1860

Websites

National Institute for Mental Health
www.nimh.nih.gov

National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association
www.ndmda.org