306 Chapter 12 Health and Fitness
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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Am I managing my time and
energy effi ciently in order to
meet my commitments?
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Are there many changes
occurring in my life at one time?
Answering these questions
will help you identify the events in
your life that cause stress. Once you
have recognized these situations,
you can work to resolve them. This
will help you reduce any symptoms
that have resulted from too much
stress in your life.
Depression
Depression is an emotional
state that ranges from mild, short-
lived feelings of sadness to a deep,
despairing sense of dejection.
Becoming depressed after a failure or loss is normal. However, a lingering
depression whose onset does not seem to be triggered by a particular
event is not normal.
Clinical depression has a number of symptoms, 12-3. Clinical
depression may have several causes and requires professional treatment.
A psychiatrist can determine appropriate therapies based on the needs of
the patient. The psychiatrist may prescribe antidepressant drugs. He or she
may also advise the patient to check into a psychiatric ward or hospital.
It may take months or even years
for a patient to recover from clinical
depression. During the recovery period,
he or she will need patience and support
from friends and family members.
Suicide
Sometimes depression goes beyond
a person’s capacity to cope. The person
may think everything will go wrong
and nothing will help. The individual
feels hopeless and powerless. Thus, he
or she settles for failing and stops trying.
Intense emotions impair the ability to see
that everyone gets depressed at times.
When a person always feels depressed,
he or she may have thoughts of suicide.
Life Skills
Techniques to Reduce Stress
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Be physically active each day to help
relieve the pressures of stress. Go for a brisk
walk or play a game of basketball or tennis.
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Be your own person. Do not let others put too much
pressure on you. Learn to say no.
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Talk to someone about your concerns.
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Take time for leisure activities to escape from your
everyday worries.
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Manage your time. Set realistic goals for the tasks you
need to accomplish. Prioritize the tasks. Then work toward
your goals—do not procrastinate!
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Take care of your health. Eat right and get plenty of sleep
and physical activity. Stress is easier to handle when you
are rested and in good health.
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Symptoms of Depression
• continual sadness, anxiety, or empty moods
• feelings of hopelessness and helplessness
• lack of interest in pleasurable activities
• sleeplessness or oversleeping
• decreased appetite or overeating
• diffi culty concentrating, remembering, or making
decisions
• headaches, digestive disturbances, nausea, or
chronic pain
• feelings of isolation from family members and
friends
• excessive crying
12-3
Prolonged symptoms of
depression indicate a
need for professional help.