Category: depression

Posted in depression, mental illness, suicide prevention

Depression-What is it, Really?

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Depression. Let’s examine the word. Dictionary.com defines the word Depression as:
“A mood disorder characterized by an inability to experience pleasure, difficulty in
concentrating, disturbance of sleep and appetite, and feelings of sadness, guilt, and
helplessness.”

Some people think that Depression is not real. That it’s simply “being sad” when it is so
much more than that. The depth of hopelessness is so overwhelming that it
overshadows everything in your life. There is a darkness that surrounds every aspect of
your life. It doesn’t matter what is happening in your life. You could be expecting your
first grandchild, or you just won the lottery. No matter what, this darkness is prominent.
It blocks out any joy.

Those that think you can turn depression off and on like a light switch have never
experienced real depression.  Being “sad”, or “low”, or “bummed out”, or “down in the
dumps” happens to everyone.  This is not depression.
There are many TYPES of depression and many, many different symptoms for them. 

 Clinical Depression
 Dysthymia
 Manic Depression
 Postpartum Depression
 Seasonal Depression
 Psychotic Depression
 Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
 Atypical Depression
 Situational Depression
 Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder

These are all types of depression and there are more.
If you have been experiencing some of the following signs and symptoms, most of the
day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks, you may be experiencing depression:

 Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
 Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
 Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
 Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
 Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling slowed down
 Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
 Difficulty sleeping, waking early in the morning, or oversleeping
 Changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes

 Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not
have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment
 Thoughts of death or suicide or suicide attempts

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every one of these symptoms. Some
people experience only a few symptoms, while others experience many symptoms.
Symptoms associated with depression interfere with day-to-day functioning and cause
significant distress for the person experiencing them.

I had one commenter describe her depression as feeling “empty inside”.  Some have
described it as being in a black pit, kept from the light.  Hopelessness and helplessness
are common feelings.

If you think that you might have depression, you might ask yourself “What kind of
depression do I have?”. A good place to start is with a family physician. Your
physician can help you figure out what you are dealing with. Sometimes the answer is
medication, sometimes it’s therapy. Your physician can point you in the right direction.
Above all, TALK to someone. Open up to someone that you trust.

If you or a loved one is in a crisis situation, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988.
What if you’re not in a crisis but really need to talk to someone? You can still call 988.
They will listen and they will help. If you can’t muster the nerve to call someone, you
can text. Text to 741741. You can do an online chat at 988lifeline.org. You can even
Tweet with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on X (Twitter).

Please visit my Mental Health Help Page for more articles on Mental Health. 

Thank you for joining me on this journey.
Penny

*I am not a medical professional. My information comes from my own research and
personal experiences. If you have any questions or if there is a subject on Mental
Health that you would like to see me cover here, please reach out to me at
pennywilsonwrites@gmail.com. 
**My sources for the information in this article are from psycom.net or Psycom, a mental
health information website, dictionary.com and nimh.nih.gov, the National Institute of
Mental Health.

Copyright 2024 Penny Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, mental illness

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Mental Health Awareness Month is a national observance started in 1949 by Mental Health America to bring attention to the importance of mental wellbeing. Across the country, individuals and organizations step up to raise awareness of and help address the challenges faced by people living with mental health conditions. Read on to learn more about this observance and how you can move mental health forward for yourself and others this month and all year long.

Why is Mental Health Awareness Important?

Despite recent strides in how our society approaches mental wellbeing, many Americans still don’t have access to the high-quality, comprehensive treatment and care they need. Just take a look at some of the staggering data about mental health in the United States:

1 in 5 U.S. adults experience mental illness each year.

Only 47.2% of U.S. adults with mental illness received treatment in 2021.

1 in 20 U.S. adults experience serious mental illness each year.

Only 65.4% of U.S. adults with serious mental illness received treatment in 2021.

1 in 6 U.S. youth have a mental health condition, but only half receive treatment.

50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.

Where Can I Find Mental Health Resources?

Help is out there, and hope is possible. Here are some free resources if you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health and/or substance use crisis:

SAMHSA’s National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357) is a 24/7 treatment referral and information service.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers 24/7, confidential support for people in distress.

The Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ+ young people.

FindTreatment.gov helps people seek treatment for mental and substance use disorders.

National Institute of Mental Health outlines additional mental health services.

What Can I Do To Raise Awareness For Mental Health?

Educate Yourself

There are many resources available to educate yourself on the subject of mental Health.  I’ve listed a few of those resources above.

Advocate for mental health

Advocating for mental health can be as simple as talking to your friends and family about their mental health. A lot of people don’t have anyone to talk to about their struggles, and by being that person for them, you can make a big difference. This is a great first step if you want to do something to help, but don’t know where to start.

Prioritize your own mental health

It’s important to take care of your own mental health, and Mental Health Month is a great time to start. You can start by building basic healthy habits, like getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating healthy. You can also work to build strong mental health habits. My favorite is journaling, which has helped me improve my mental health a lot.

If you or a loved one is in a crisis situation, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988.  What if you’re not in a crisis but really need to talk to someone?  You can still call 988.  They will listen and they will help.  If you can’t muster the nerve to call someone, you can text.  Text to 741741.  You can do an online chat at 988lifeline.org.  You can even Tweet with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on X (Twitter).  Above all, TALK to someone.  Open up to someone that you trust.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  My best you and your loved ones.

Penny Wilson

*I am not a medical professional.  My information comes from my own research and personal experiences.  If you have any questions or if there is a subject on Mental Health that you would like to see me cover here, please reach out to me at pennywilsonwrites@gmail.com.  You can also see more of my writings on this and other subjects at pennywilsonwrites.com.  For Mental Health information and articles click on my Mental Health Help tab.

**Sources for this article include The National Council For Mental Well Being, NAMI-National Alliance On Mental Illness, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Awareness Administration and the Operation Red Wings Foundation.

Copyright © 2024, Penny Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, Life, Writing

The Power of the Pen/Writing To Heal

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

We all write for different reasons.  There are as many different reasons to write as there are writers.  I’ve been writing off & on my whole life.  But I didn’t give it any real merit or take it seriously until around 2011.  Now, writing is a huge part of my life.  One that I could not imagine being without.

My blog is a mixture of all kinds of things.  From my personal experiences to the daydreams of short stories or poetry.  It’s filled with my life.  My hopes, my dreams, and my tragedies, fears, and setbacks.

But more than anything, it’s filled with healing.

Through my writing, I’ve been able to put voice to the many experiences in my life.  This expression is an outlet.  A way to shout, scream, kick the dog (figuratively, of course. I would NEVER kick sweet Rocket), cry or sing, soar and rejoice.

It’s a way to heal.

But not just for me.  I hope that some of my writing has touched others.  I’ve written many times about depression and its devastation on people.  I’ve also written about family, loves and loss.

I have heard from several people that appreciate my writings and my attempt to inform and educate.  I appreciate this more than you could ever know.  

If my writing has touched you in some small way; if it has helped you heal in some small way, that makes me extremely happy.  If my writing made you smile on a day where it was tough to smile, then it’s all been worth it.  Because that’s what writers do.  They touch others’ lives through their writing.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey.  ❤ Penny

Copyright (C) 2024 Penny Wilson, All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, Poetry

Gravity

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes 

*This is an older piece, but I like it. I hope you do too. 

The energy it takes
to pull my feet from this earth
seems insurmountable. 

Each step
burdensome
cumbersome
massive. 

I lift my head
seeing the sunlight
breaking through the darkness ahead. 

Just a sliver. 

Hope. 

I advance
determined to reach
the cloudless space.

A deep breath. 

My conviction
wavering.

Fragments are found
somewhere deep inside.

Another step.

A small victory.

Another step.

I feel warmth
coming from the light.

One last step... 

Triumph. 
Copyright (C) 2019 Penny Wilson

**All is well, my friends.  This post started out as something very dark but turned around for me. (I never know the path my muse will take.)  I think it says that the light IS peeking through for me.  As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. ❤ Penny

Posted in depression, mental illness

I’m not fine

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

*This is a work of fiction, my friends.  I am well and doing fine.  I haven’t written about Depression in a while and wanted to do so.

The truth is, you see, I’m not fine.  What the world sees is a lie.  A lie to help them cope.  A lie to help me cope.

My lies serve me well.  Sometimes.  They hide the demons that fly under the radar to steal my mind.

I keep a careful watch.  But, they come whether I want them to or not.  I must be ever vigilant, to recognize them before they pounce.  Their disguises vary with each encounter.

There is a sense, a feeling, that they are coming.  Sometimes.  Other times, they attack without warning.

I lose the will of pretending at times.  I give in to them.  They are stronger than I am.  My resolve to smile and continue the lies wane.  I will retreat to my little cave under the covers.  If I sleep, I then find respite, a reprieve from the continual onslaught.  The darkness of sleep is preferable to the darkness I am subjected to by the demons.

Then, miraculously, they’re gone.  They’ve retreated back to where they came from; to the dark, dank recesses of my mind.  Perhaps they are gathering forces to come again.  Perhaps they are gone forever.  I don’t know.  I won’t know until they return, if they return.

For now, my days are brighter.  I can look forward to tomorrow.

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson

*If you or someone you know needs help, Please TALK to someone.  Please see more helpful resources on my Mental Health Help Page HERE.

Image by Constance Kowalik from Pixabay

Posted in depression, Life, mental illness

The Noise of This World

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

*I wrote this a couple of years ago, but I feel that with the state of the world, it should be repeated.  Enjoy.  

At the end of 2021, I was in a deep spiral of depression and anxiety.  Inflation, gas prices, the Pandemic, interest rates, drought, war, politics, global warming, mass shootings, etc., etc., etc.  There is certainly enough to be concerned about if you simply look beyond your own front door.   With the insurmountable number of issues the world has, how do we deal with it all?

Being an introvert, the noise of this world can become overwhelming for me.  In the last year, I moved to a small, quiet town and have a home in the country.  For me, this life is the most peaceful it has been in decades.

Even with my current quiet lifestyle, one can’t simply ignore the issues going on around us.  At least I can’t.  All you have to do is turn on the TV and you’ll be bombarded with images and stories that are disturbing.  That’s a LOT of negativity to absorb.  I want to be informed.  I’m not a “head in the sand” type of person.  So how do I deal with it?

Negativity breeds negativity.  Have you heard the phrase “misery loves company”?  It’s true.  You must distance yourself from it in some way.  Below are some ways of coping with the negativity.

*Take the negativity in small doses.  If you MUST watch the news, limit yourself.  Set a limit of exposure.  I do not expose myself to image upon image of war, or weather disasters, or the back-biting of politics, or a number of other things.  I know they exist, but I am not overloading myself with the details.

*Tend your own garden. Even though my life is a quiet one, there are responsibilities and activities that I must tend to.  I own a fixer-upper house that I am always working on.  I am taking my writing interest more seriously.  I spend time with family and stay in touch with friends.  I try to stay active and healthy.  These are not only important in my life, they also distance me from the constant flow of negativity.

*Do your part (within your means).  Want to help?  Seeing all the awful things that go on in the world, it’s hard not to want to help, to be involved.  So, do What You Can Within Your Means.  Recycle, save water, donate to the food bank and/or local charities, Vote!  You can also volunteer locally.  Libraries, animal shelters and retirement communities always need help.  Shop small and shop locally.  Small independent business owners need your help.  They feel the crunch too.

*Be prepared.  Keep your gas tank full.  Stay stocked up on the basics/essentials in your pantry.  Have emergency water and first aid items on hand.  THIS is an excellent website that can help. They have information on everything from building an Emergency Preparedness Kit to Cyber Security.  

A few things to keep in mind:

*It’s not all about you.  There are some things that just do not concern you and there’s nothing that you can do about them. 

*We’re all in the same boat.  You are not alone in feeling the enormity of the problems of this world. 

*See the reality of the situation.  In the Big Scheme of things, Worldwide, there is only So Much you can do.  Keep in mind that YOU alone, are limited by your means, your location, etc.

*Do What You Can.  If you want to help, then help.  Do what’s within your power to help.  A lot of little things add up to bigger things that can help overall. 

*Seek help.  If things get to be overwhelming, seek help.  TALK to someone.  Let those around you know that you are struggling.  THIS is my page on Mental Health Help.  There are a number or resources and articles that may be helpful.

No one knows how much time we have on this planet.  Be happy when you can, enjoy and be grateful for what you have, live today, for today.  Spend time with your loved ones.  Appreciate the little things that make you smile. 

“Mind your own biscuits and everything will be gravy.” 

Copyright (C) 2022 Penny Wilson All Rights Reserved

Posted in depression, mental illness, suicide prevention

The Dirty Secret of Depression

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

I watch the news and they say we are in the midst of a Mental Health Crisis.  I’ve written several times about Depression.  You can read more of my pieces on Mental Health and Depression HERE.

It’s so frustrating to see that no matter what, the problem continues to be swept under the rug.  How long will this subject remain in the shadows?  How long will it have such a stigma attached to it that people dare not even use the word ‘Depression’?  How long will this remain a Dirty Secret?

Life has no value to depression.  EVERY DAY 121 Americans commit suicide.  50% of those people suffered from depression.

More than 38,000 people a year commit suicide.  80 to 90% of those that seek help for depression are helped using therapy and/or drugs.  This is great!  But FINDING the help is a problem.

How do you talk to someone about Depression?  THIS is a great article I found about how you can be supportive.   THIS is another article about what you should and shouldn’t say to someone with depression.  

Many people do not seek the help they need.  Why?  For a few reasons.  The Stigma attached to Depression and Mental Health stops them.  The COST for treatment stops them.  Even FINDING help stops them.

Depression stops you in your tracks.  You no longer care about anything that once brought you joy.  Just the simple act of getting out of bed in the morning seems insurmountable.  You struggle to find REASON or energy to complete the next task, to wash your hair, to take out the trash.  Life seems to have No Meaning.  “Why do anything?  There’s no point.”

Depression is sneaky and deceptive.  It creeps into your life in such subtle ways, you don’t even know it’s happening until one day, you look around yourself and your entire word has gone grey.  Your world no longer has life.  NOTHING matters anymore.  NOTHING brings you joy.  Depression has stolen that from you.

WEB MD says that some of the signs of depression are:

  • Fatigue or loss of energy almost every day
  • Feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day
  • Impaired concentration, indecisiveness
  • Insomnia or hypersomnia (excessive sleeping) almost every day
  • Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in almost all activities nearly every day (called anhedonia, this symptom can be indicated by reports from significant others)
  • Restlessness or feeling slowed down
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide
  • Significant weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

If you know of someone that might be depressed, reach out to them.  Start a conversation.  Let them know that it’s alright to talk about it! Let’s bring depression out of the shadows and into the light.  This is the only way people are going to feel safe enough to talk about it and seek help.  Help End This Stigma!

* I found my information/statistics at various websites.  Here are a few that have wonderful articles on depression and how to seek help:

WEDMD

SAVE.ORG

Mental Health America

Healthline.Com

If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call 988 to get help right away.  You can also text to 741741.  

Copyright (C) 2024 Penny Wilson

*Writing on this subject is my small way to help end the stigma of mental health issues.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

More Help for Mental Health

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Because of my Mental Health Help Page, I will occasionally get an inquiry from someone asking me to add their information to my page.  The Recovery Village has made such an inquiry.   THIS PAGE breaks down different types of Mental Health Disorders that they can help with.

The Recovery Village is in 8 states and has many locations within those states.  While their main focus is on substance abuse, they have an extensive program for mental health disorders.  THIS is a page about the link between substance abuse and depression.  

Even if substance abuse is not an issue in your life, there is help available to you for Mental Health Disorders from The Recovery Village.  I encourage you to explore their website as there is a wealth of information there. 

If you have information that you would like to see added to my Mental Health Help Page, please contact me via my Contact Page.

Thank you for joining me on this journey.  Penny ❤ 

Posted in depression, mental illness

HotLines & Helplines-What You Need to Know

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

Have you ever felt that you need to talk to someone but you don’t know where to turn?  Did you ever think of calling a Crisis Hotline?  Maybe you don’t think you are in crisis.  You don’t want to ‘bother’ someone if it’s not really an emergency.  Maybe you’re embarrassed.  Right?  

You don’t need to be experiencing a crisis to contact a crisis hotline. At most of these hotlines, the volunteers and counselors who answer calls, texts and chat messages are trained to help someone in crisis. But you can also reach out if you’re feeling sad, anxious or stressed and don’t know where to turn. 

These hotlines also serve friends, family members and loved ones of someone who is experiencing a mental health crisis, domestic violence, abuse, addiction and many other issues. 

Even if someone at the crisis hotline cannot help you with your specific needs, they can point you to the right resources that can. No one will ever make you feel bad for trying to get help, and no concern is too trivial or small. If it feels hard for you to manage, it’s worth reaching out.

There is a list of phone numbers, text numbers, websites and more ways to contact someone for help on my Mental Health Help page HERE. Below are a few of those. 

The Suicide Prevention Hotline in the US, available 24/7, is 988.  If you have any problem with this #, please dial the old # 1-800-273-8255. 

Is talking to someone too much for you?  It was for me in the past.  There is a Crisis Text Line.  Text 741741 and you can text with a counselor.

Want to do an online chat?  There’s a site for that too.  Find it HERE.

You can even TWEET with a crisis counselor at @800273TALK on Twitter.

As always, thank you for joining me on this journey. Penny ❤

Posted in depression, mental illness

No Shame

Posted on by Penny Wilson Writes

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.  With this in mind, please read the piece below. 

I’ve heard people say things like “Oh, she’s just depressed”.  Just?

Most people, unless they’ve been there, have no idea what depression is really all about.  Most people use the word Sad.

It’s not really sad.  But yeah, sometimes it is.  It’a hollow, hopeless, emptiness, that consumes you.  Your world is black and bleak.  Nothing matters.

You could be expecting your first grandchild, or your son’s dream of attending Yale just came true, it doesn’t matter.  You put on a brave face, smile and act the part, but inside, you are barely functioning.

This is depression.

Continue reading “No Shame” →