by Daryl Hoole with Elaine Hoole Quinn

Our daughter, Elaine, was diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder 18 years ago. She resides in Naperville Illinois, and the local chapter of The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) for DuPage County has invited her to be a volunteer lecturer. She is finding that her message of substance with its hopeful, helpful (practical) information is being gratefully received by her audience. When she was so desperately ill for those 9 years, priesthood blessings from her husband would often include the promise that her suffering would lead her to helping many others. Now, she is doing so in a number of ways as she shares her story. (See also It's Like Walking Through Molasses)

Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom of the illness.  Some people experience a few symptoms, some many.  Also, severity of symptoms varies with individuals.  If symptoms of depression have been persistent for over two weeks, seek professional help.  Diagnosis and treatment are imperative!

• Persistent sad, or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Change in sleep: insomnia, early morning awaking or oversleeping
• Decreased energy, fatigue, feeling slowed down
• Little interest or pleasure in activities usually enjoyed (including sex)
• Feelings of worthlessness and/or excessive guilt
• Difficulty in concentrating, remembering and making decisions
• Irritable, or angry feelings
• Anxiousness and/or restlessness
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders and other chronic pain
• Restlessness or decreased activity
• Thoughts of death and suicide
  
  Even a brief mention of suicide should be taken seriously.  Thoughts of death are a common symptom of depression.