10 Signs of Depression’s Early Warning
June 13th, 2008
On the road to a class in Topeka about 24 miles to the west. I was just getting ready to turn onto K-10 and make my way to the turnpike when the radio buzzed annoyingly with a weather alert. There was a tornado warning for Topeka. A twister had been sighted just southwest of town and was moving northeast. So much for class.
I love watching big storms move in. Can’t say I like having to hunker down in the basement when they’re on top of me and the sirens are blowing but they are beautiful. Definitely makes you feel small and puts things in perspective. In the big picture our problems are very small and while they may make us run and take shelter on occasion, they will pass.
One thing I’ve learned is to pay attention to the warning signs of depression. We may not have early warning radar, satellite imagery and a news crawl across our t.v. telling us it’s coming. With a little mindfulness and a willingness to face what’s going on (rather than try to avoid or ignore it and hope it’ll go away) we can take the necessary steps to head off the black dog storm. At the very least we can minimize its effects.
- more easily irritated
- changing your bedtime ritual (e.g. going to bed later/earlier, watching too much t.v., etc.)
- withdrawal from family, friend & co-workers
- dwelling on negative experiences, catastrophizing
- feeling like you’re stumbling through your day, just making the motions
- you stop exercising
- little things (taking the trash out, making a bed) start to seem like they take too much effort
- spending more time doing mindless activities - t.v., video games, internet (except to read this blog!)
- more aches and pains - worrying about your physical health
- feeling stuck - unable to make decisions
If you notice that you seem to be living more in your head, obsessed by your thoughts/feelings, then you may be slipping a leash back on to your black dog. You need to take the necessary steps to head it off. Get back into counseling, practice TLC, get on meds if necessary, etc. Force yourself to do what you know is good for you. Above all do not ignore the signs. It may seem that it’s easier to ignore them and hope they’ll go away but they won’t.
Take charge of your life, your health. No one else can do it for you.
June 13th, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Great list. Today was a day of over tiredness for me and the ‘black dog’ was nipping at me. My husband is the best at recognizing these early warning signs and sent me away for a nap. So much better! Too many late nights in a row will do it for me.
PS. I miss Kansas - I grew up there in the summers and spent winters in Canada. (Totally backwards I know).
June 14th, 2008 at 4:59 am
Merri Ellen,
Wow, you like your summers hot and your winters cold!
Lack of sleep does it for me too. You’re fortunate to have your husband’s help in seeing the red flags of depression.
What part of Kansas are you from?
June 14th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Yes, indeed - my husband’s support is very key.
I vacationed in Kansas to be near extended family and they lived in Moundridge, Salina, Hutchinson… (sounds like from your neck of the woods perhaps?).
I was born and raised in the central prairies of Canada. Believe it or not, there are a lot of similarities of the landscape. The weather is not that far off in the summer. It’s the winters that are very different.
Anyways, I appreciate your depression writings on your blog. In fact, when I read it, I thought I was reading my own website! Your depression experience and research findings are very similar to mine.
Blessings to you as you spread hope!
Feel free to share with my readers. A few are calling out for help on this page…
http://www.cure-your-depression.com/depression-self-quiz.html
It starts with a self quiz at the top and if you scroll to the bottom, you can see what others have already written. You can add your comments to any of their postings.
June 15th, 2008 at 7:09 am
What a small world Merri Ellen. I actually live in Lawrence but used to live in Topeka, Manhattan and Ft. Riley. My sister lived in Salina for years.
I appreciate your writing as well. Your quiz is great.
June 18th, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Just wanted to say “Thanks” I find your postings very honest and thoughtful, as well as helpful. I’m a thirty year old male from Boston, MA and I’ve been struggling with the Black Dog for the past ten years or so.
June 18th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
Nicholas,
Thanks for your comments. I’m glad you’re getting something of value out of it. I hope you practice TLC and get some relief from your depression. You can get better, it just takes time and effort.