Hearing Loss

Lesson 2: Recovery From the Emotional Trauma of Hearing Loss

Getting Over Depression

In the first lesson we learned that only when depression has lifted can we get to acceptance. Depression is one of the hardest things to deal with because one of the symptoms of depression is not knowing you're depressed.

Even if you do recognize that you're depressed, you may not know how to get out of it. Depression is a sinking spiral. The more we think about it, the more depressed we feel.

It's hard for others to understand that we can't just "cheer up" and that loops us into isolation. Isolation leads to depression and depression leads back to isolation.

We MUST break the loop. Some of you may be able to do it with the help of your family and friends. Others may need professional help, which we will talk about in the next section.

Are you depressed? Do you know the symptoms? Do any of the following statements sound like you?

For at least the last two weeks

• I feel sad, blue, unhappy
• I feel tired, have little energy, can't concentrate
• I feel uneasy, restless or irritable
• I'm having trouble sleeping and I changed my eating pattern
• I'm not enjoying the activities as much as before
• I feel things are hopeless

If you see yourself in those statements, you may be depressed. You can try to help yourself, but you should consider professional therapy. If antidepressant medication is required, only a doctor can prescribe and monitor it for you.

There are some things you can do to help yourself:

• Set realistic goals and take on some responsibility.
• Take small steps - one thing at a time is easier to tackle than a huge project
• DO NOT isolate yourself. Talk to someone (personal support system)
• Try to do things that make you feel better. Connect with other people.
• Don't expect to feel better instantly. It takes time.
• Try not to make major decisions that could affect your future until you're feeling better
• Try to think positively and don't get caught up in negative thinking
• Let the people close to you help you

New York University School of Medicine's Department of Psychiatry put an online depression screening test. You can take the whole test at http://www.med.nyu.edu/Psych/screens/dep... and you can learn more about depression at The National Institute of Mental Health.

Suite U offers the course Coping With Depression and that can help you too.

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