Depression

Today we suffered a great loss actor Robin Williams has passed away. He
spent years making us laugh and cry with his tv shows and movies. Even though
Robin loved entertaining he also suffered from depression. To honor him I am sharing
my story.

In today’s world we have a lot to deal with, ranging from stress, violence, substance abuse and peer pressure. Our life can be filled with as good times, as well as frustration and stress. During these times life stresses can bring about depression caused by unrealistic expectations and overreaction to rejection. My young adult years were filled with confusion, embarrassment and discontent with myself. I had trouble accepting my disabilities and tried to hide them from others. I felt very alone and unable to accomplish anything because of my disabilities. I also suffered from low self-esteem and lack of confidence. These feelings caused me to go through crying spells, withdrawing from others and self- doubt.

There are many signs of depression but if two or more signs persist professional help needs to be sought. The symptoms are as follows:
1. Poor performance in school
2. Withdrawal from friends and activities
3. Sadness and hopelessness
4. Anger and rage
5. Overreaction to criticism
6. Feelings of being unable to satisfy ideals
7. Poor self-esteem and feelings of guilt
8. Indecisiveness, lack of concentration and forgetfulness
9. Restfulness and agitation
10. Changes in eating and sleeping patterns
11. Substance abuse
12. Problems with authority
13. Suicidal thoughts

There are several techniques that can be used to combat depression before the symptoms become too severe. Firstly, making new friends and contacts can be enriching and broaden your social horizons. Joining sports, organizations and doing volunteer work can give self-confidence and raise self-esteem. Learning new skills and taking up new hobbies can be rewarding to the soul.

The key to surviving anything is positive thinking. There are three important parts to positive thinking. I call them the three c’s commitment, control and challenges. The first is to make a positive commitment to your life and dreams. After many different experiences I found a way to make my dream come true through my writing career. The second one is controlling your destiny focusing on your goals. The last part is not to be afraid of taking on new challenges since they keep life interesting and exciting. Every day can be a new beginning and yesterdays can be a stepping-stone to tomorrow.
One of the methods I have used to combat depression is writing regularly in a journal. I would write down my feelings as a way of bringing closure and expressing myself. In every situation I always weigh the positives against the negatives, making the best of what I have. I always keep a list of my positive characteristics and accomplishments to review daily.

More importantly, a strong support system of family and friends is essential. I am very grateful to have my family there to remind me of my strengths, give me support and never let me slip too far into depression.
Now I wake up each day with a renewed positive attitude ready to take on new challenges.
Resources
National Suicide Hotline
1-800-suicide