Depression: What You Need To Know.

Depression

This weeks assigned blog post is on depression. But before we can talk much we need to know what depression is right? According to Websters dictionary it is, "Severe despondency and dejection, accompanied by feelings of hopelessness and inadequacy," or, " A condition of mental disturbance, typically with lack of energy and difficulty in maintaining concentration or interest in life." I think depression can be something much more than just a "Mental Disturbance," I think it can be a problem that affects the body as well as the spirit. It takes it toll on those who it afflicts many times leaving a person a hollow shell of what they used to be. Someone told me that they think depression is, "holding the weight of the world on their shoulders." I don't know but I think that is pretty hard to deal with, and would probably lead me to do some rash things because of it.

Symptoms

There are many symptoms for depression, both physical and emotional. The physical can be anything from a constant stomachache, to a debilitating migraine that leaves you sleepless for hours. Irritability and restlessness are also symptoms of depression. A few other things to watch out for, people suffering from depression are much more likely to show no self restraint, and/or care for their life. They may also be practicing self mutilation, and finally they may also be constantly wallowing in self pity. For a more complete list of depression symptoms click here.

Some Statistics

In 1997 suicide was the leading cause of death in people ages 10-24. That includes car accidents. About 8.3 percent of adolescents have been diagnosed with depression. That means it is one of the top disorders in adolescents. These statistics should shock you, and maybe even horrify you. That is eight percent of america's adolescent population that will be tempted to commit suicide. Just to add one more fact, one in ten people struggling with depression will commit suicide. That's a fact. Teenagers are perhaps the most likely of all age groups to commit suicide. Depression greatly increases the risk of self mutilation.

How You Can Help

Chances are you know someone who struggles with depression. You probably won't know that person struggles with depression. These people need to be shown love. You need to show them that they ARE needed.They need to know that there is someone there for them, even if they don't want it. They need to know you are there for them. A simple thing you can do is to not make fun of depression when you are around them, and since you don't know who they are, you probably shouldn't make fun of depression around anyone. If you do make fun of depression, than that person may take it personally as an insult to them.

Some Remedies

I haven't ever been diagnosed with depression, and I don't really think I am qualified to speak from my personal experience. So in other words, I haven't tried these remedies, but I am told they work. I was told by a close friend who struggles with depression that hard work gets his mind off of himself and onto more enjoyable things. This is only a short term remedy, but if you did a little bit of hard work every day than that would be a little bit of not struggling with depression everyday. Another source of mine has told me that they will call up their best friend when they are feeling down, and hearing the love and joy from their friend helps them to see that they are worth something in this world.

Finally

If you know anyone who is suffering from depression, or you suspect that they may be, go out of your way to show them that you care about. Don't ask them "what does depression feel like?" Because that would probably make them feel like they are the only ones struggling with depression, and that could lead to some rash decisions.

I hope you have found This article to be helpful. You can always email me question at thequintonator @gmail.com. Enjoy! Comment! Critique!

My Dream Girl.... Or 4 Things I Can't Stand (In A Girl).

Okay, Girls, Guys Will Never Understand You

I hope you read my last blog post, because this is a follow up post. Well, anyway, Guys will never understand girls. A few of my female friends did blog posts this week on what they look for in guys, and I thought that I would also go ahead and talk about five things I can't stand in girls.

The List

I will never be able to make a list that would encompass all the things that I dislike that girls do. However, I will start with the top four. I think that should get a girls mind into overdrive.

Dates

As the comic strip Dustin, above illustrates, Girls are so hard to read. All guys wish that there was a dating department store. I think this stems from the mixed signals a girl sends their way. People are fickle, I understand that, but do you really have to act like you love us one day, and then act like we are the devil the next. For a guy's mind that is like dropping it into a proverbial blender. It hurts, but it doesn't just hurt our brains, it hurts out emotions as well. It hurts our self image. If you are going to turn a guy down for a date, please to it kindly. I think girls should learn that teenage guys think that every girl they see is going to be their girlfriend, and if a girl leads a guy on even in the least bit, that guys is going to grow attached to her. So just keep it in mind.

Opinion

Girls think they know a guy, but do they really? A guy is at least two different people, one when he is with his best friend, and another when he is in the mall with a group of friends. He just doesn't show how stupid he is with his best friend. When with his best friend, he talks about the complexities of life, and how the world would be a different place if they were allowed to change it. He talks about his likes, and dislikes. If a girl didn't make up her mind within THIRTY seconds of meeting a guy, I think there would be a lot of different relationships. I strongly recommend that girls try not to form a negative opinion at first.

Overdrive

Overdrive is another thing that I will speak about. By overdrive I mean that state a girls mind goes into when a guy says something that might mean something different. I am a guy and I can tell you we don't even know how to speak to girls very well. I know that I haven't been very clear so I will give an example. Let's say for instance that Little Johnny just had his first date with a girl that he really likes. And let's say that on his first date he says,"I've only had this much fun one other time." Automatically a girls mind goes into overdrive, she starts thinking,"What other time, Am I not as fun as some other girl, He doesn't really like me does he, I think this guy stinks." All this happens in about three seconds, and Johnny's first date is ruined. I don't know if all girls are like this or just most of the girls I know, but this has to be the most annoying thing a girl can do. Oh, and I left out the extreme barrage of questions that leave a guy feeling as if his date had just given him the third degree.

Maturity

Girls, if you like a guy then don't act like you are more mature than him. He'll learn that later. Don't act like you're thirty, unless of course you are. Guys are immature by nature, and you have to learn that now if you want to have a healthy lasting relationship. By acting "Mature" you are putting a guy on an uneven playing field. If that guy really likes you, he will put you on a pedestal and cater to your every need, or he should. If he doesn't then you need to send him to me, and let me teach him some manners. Girls are God's gift to guys, only we don't realize it, you may, but we don't. But please don't ACT more mature than us. Guys think that everyone shares the same intellect, and type of mind, but not everyone does. DON"T ever show a guy you like up or you just push them away.
I hope you found this article helpful. Questions or comments are loved and appreciated. So send them my way to thequintonator at Gmail.com.