Depression is not simply a malady of writers and poets. It's the most diagnosed mental illness in America, and at the same time, one of the least admitted to. After all people who are depressed sit in the dark all day eating their body weight in chocolate and writing really bad poetry. Right? Wrong!

Here are some signs that you may be depressed.

• lack of concentration (you're reading this instead of doing what you should be doing)

• deep-rooted boredom

• withdrawal

• eating too much or too little

• lack of energy

• self-criticism

• negative thinking

• feelings of guilt, shame, fear, or helplessness

• rebellion; over confidence; lack of fear of injury or death.

If these symptoms last longer than two weeks at a stretch, you may be clinically depressed. (And all the positive-thinking you can muster will not change your mood.)

But help is available! The bio-chemical imbalance that creates these feelings, can often be corrected with anti-dpression medications.

So, if you or a friend are exhibiting these signs—or sitting in the dark all day eating his or her body weight in chocolate and writing really bad poetry—please seek one of the many treatment options available. (And here are some additional resources.)

Depression (National Institute of Mental Health)

Depression (WebMD)

Depression is real (American Psychiatric Association)

Depression (Teens Health)

© 2008 James N. Watkins



Leave a comment, tell a friend, send me money . . .

Email your comments to jim@jameswatkins.com.

And if this page was helpful, please . . .
    a) save it as a favorite at delicious.com
    b) subscribe to the RSS feed
    c) recommend it to digg.com and StumbleUpon.com and
    d) tell a friend:

Your name:
Your email:
Friend's name:
Friend's email:

And if this page was really helpful, please . . .
    e) please consider a donation to our sponsor XarisCom.

You can donate securely with any major credit card through PayPal. Thanks!

Legal stuff and warnings

Copyright © James Watkins. All text and graphics on my sites, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted © in my name, James N. Watkins, and are protected by United States copyright law and international copyright law under the Berne Convention. Please visit the press room for information on reprinting any text or graphics. Thanks!

WARNING: Reader assumes full responsibility for the proper and prescribed use of this site. For external use only. Discontinue if rash, redness, irritation, or swelling develops. If swallowed, do not induce vomiting. Side-effects may include drowsiness or mild to severe agitation. Do not read while consuming alcohol or operating heavy machinery. Keep away from open flame. Do not store above 451 degrees. Do not use near or place in water. Void where prohibited, taxed or licensed. Any medical information provided is for general educational use only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of any other person—real or fictitious, living or dead—using the name James N. Watkins.