306 Chapter 12 Health and Fitness Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. • Am I managing my time and energy effi ciently in order to meet my commitments? • 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 • 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. • Be your own person. Do not let others put too much pressure on you. Learn to say no. • Talk to someone about your concerns. • Take time for leisure activities to escape from your everyday worries. • Manage your time. Set realistic goals for the tasks you need to accomplish, including paid employment if you work. Prioritize the tasks. Then work toward your goals— do not procrastinate! • 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. • relie d h f a m a f o I t W h 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 • difficulty 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.