Depression

What is It? What to Do?

Depression: What is It? What to Do? is for those that have been diagnosed with depression. It contains information about your condition as well as practical suggestions for dealing with it. Your family, friends and any one else who may be affected by your depression will also find the booklet useful. Learn to deal with depression, rather than suffering from it, requires major attitude and life changes. Although making these adjustments may not be easy, you can succeed by developing new attitudes and skills, and learning more about your condition.

To help you make these adjustments, you can use this handbook in several ways including to:

• learn more about depression, how it affects you and what you can do about it;
• get ideas about how to make changes and live more successfully;
• find out where to get help;
• understand how your depression may affect others who are close to you; and
• find out how to get and give support to others.

Suggestions are aimed at a wide audience, so some of the ideas may work for you while others may not. Furthermore, some suggestions may apply at certain times in your life but may not be needed at other times. You are the one to decide which ideas to try on for size, which ones suit you and work best for you.

Learning to deal with depression takes time, patience and courage. You’re worth the effort.

Contents

About Depression – Depression Across the Age Span, Types, Causes of Depression

Treatment – Medication, Psychotherapy, Other Treatments, Hospitalization

Strategies for Living – Promoting Your Own Health, Hope Makes a Difference, Lifestyle Considerations, Legal Considerations, Suicide Prevention, Make a Plan for Living

For Family and Friends – Reaction and Adjustments, What to Expect When Depression Appears, How to Help

Support and Resources – Self Help Groups, Community Resources, Community Organizations, Your Resource Phone List

Glossary

Other Suggested Reading

• Allen, J.G. (1995). Coping with Trauma: A guide to self-understanding.
  Written to help laypersons understand the complex and often bewildering impact of traumatic experience and/or unremitting stress, including depression, anxiety and panic attacks. Provides information about treatment and self-regulation.