A Major Depressive Episode is identified by 5 or more of these symptoms:

1. Depressed mood or irritable most of the day, nearly every day, as indicated by either subjective report (e.g., feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (e.g., appears tearful).
2. Decreased interest or pleasure in most activities, most of each day
3. Significant weight change (5%) or change in appetite (over the time the depression symptoms have been present).
4. Change in sleep: Insomnia or hypersomnia (difficulty sleeping either staying asleep or over sleeping).
5. Change in activity: Psychomotor agitation or retardation  (like nervous twitch, like twisting hair, shaking foot, or your body feels like lead and can’t move).
6.  Fatigue or loss of energy.
7. Guilt/worthlessness: Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt.
8. Concentration: diminished ability to think or concentrate, or more indecisiveness.
9. Suicidal: Thoughts of death or suicide, or has suicide plan.

(the above criteria from the DSM-V)

My symptoms came on quickly. I thought depression was gradual. Am I depressed?

Depression can come on gradually over time, and it can come on rapidly over the course of one day depending on the situation. Sometimes the tendency towards depression is inherited being more biological than caused by an experience. Depression can also be triggered by certain medical conditions. Regardless of the origin, what you should do is all the same.  Don’t wonder; reach out.

Depression occurs when a person encounters something in life that is larger than his/her ability to cope. This can be a single event or a series of events over time. The overall effect is so large that the body begins to shut down one system at a time. A Major Depressive Episode can require medical intervention because at a certain level of depression, it becomes physical.

I am sad sometimes, am I depressed?

Being depressed is more than just being down or sad. People who are depressed describe it like this: “I feel like I have fallen in a hole and cannot will myself to get out”; “I feel like I am caught is tar that is pulling me downward”; “darkness… just darkness”. It is common for people who are depressed to say that they cannot feel God’s presence at all.

But grief can also go into the future. We can grieve what could have been.

As the way we do life right now has drastically shifted and still continues to change it can be helpful to acknowledge the grief of things that have been lost as well as things that could have happened but now won’t.

With so many changes our brains are working overtime to adjust. When we identify and acknowledge our losses, this begins the process of helping the mind to adapt and the soul to heal.

In grief, we know God sees each one of our tears “You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.” (Psalm 56:8) And he promises to be with us in difficult places as Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and save those who are crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

Laura Frederick

Grace and peace to you. In this time of social distancing as many of us are working from home, I am aware that at the same time that we are “social creatures” we are also “private creatures”. While we are living in this time together with family 24-7, remember that our routines of work allowed us a good bit of private-time that we may have taken for granted.

I would encourage you to make sure you have private spaces for each person in your home and make it o.k. to spend time there. It doesn’t mean you don’t love your family if you want time alone. The way we structure our time is a foundation of our existence that keeps us steady. We are also “creatures of habit”. Making new routines that include individual time can help keep you healthy.

And last, while things are happening that make us question our most basic activities and securities, remember that our LORD is a WAY-MAKER. He is an able REDEEMER. He is with us, and He knows what we need. Blessings to you and yours.

The Vine has telephone and video conference sessions available. There was a time when I would not have chosen this venue for therapy, but it is working amazingly well. You can call our office to find out more. 256-270-7399

Rev. Dr. Amanda W. Ragland, LMFT

(Stained glass from First Presbyterian, Athens, supporting church of The Vine).  

It is difficult to have a heart of gratitude when things hurt, yet you would have us trust in you no matter the circumstance. I pray for couples who are in great hurt and pain today because of hurt and pain that happened year, decades ago. Lord, help them to sort the old from the new so that they can deal realistically in the hear and now. Help them to understand and confront old hurts so that they don’t replicate them again and again. Heal the old so that the present can also be healed. Help them to trust and have gratitude for your hand on every step of the journey. For your children who hurt in this way I pray. Amen.

Rev. Dr. Jack Ragland, LMFT