AFTER LOSS

 DEPRESSION?

A major problem that can be helped by your doctor.  PLEASE, NEVER EVER decide that you can self medicate with the use of the Net. 

You will come across thousands of websites selling the drugs that you have read about or heard about, those items sold on these sites are at the very least, fake and useless, and are in many cases dangerous. It is important for you to be well informed about medications you may need. You should know what medications you take and the dosage, and learn everything you can about them. Many medications now come with patient package inserts, describing the medication, how it should be taken, and side effects to look for.

When you go to a new doctor, always take with you a list of all of the prescribed medications (including dosage), over-the-counter medications, and vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements you take. The list should include herbal teas and supplements such as St. John's wort, echinacea, ginkgo, ephedra, and ginseng. Almost any substance that can change behavior can cause harm if used in the wrong amount or frequency of dosing, or in a bad combination. Drugs differ in the speed, duration of action, and in their margin for error.

Remember, there is no do-it-yourself way.  Should you require any drugs or medicines your doctor will prescribe them, the chemist will provide safe pills and potions, you will be given the correct instructions for taking your items.

There is a website that would appear to give very good advice at, http://www.allaboutdepression.com/med_08.html 

 ( "After Loss" has no connection with the above mentioned website. )

 DEPRESSION---Signs to look out for.

DEPRESSION.  A medical word. A pathological state of extreme dejection or melancholy, often with physical symptoms, a reduction in vitality, vigour or spirits.

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All of us, at times, feel depressed, and it is normal, maybe just for a little while "down in the dumps", but we fight back, we "snap" out of it.

A feeling of depression in the period following the loss of a loved one is very normal and understandable and it will take a while to move out of this part of bereavement, an extended period of depression may be harmful and there are many places that you can seek help.

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What are the signs?

1. Feeling unhappy, miserable and lonely.
2. Feeling negative and hopeless about your life and the future.
3. Feeling guilty, bad or inadequate.
4. Feeling irritable, agitated, anxious or moody.
5. No longer enjoying thing you used to like doing.
6. Loss of sex drive.
7. Weight loss or gain.
8. Difficulty in getting to sleep and/or waking early.
9. Loss of energy or motivation and poor concentration.
10. Not looking after your personal appearance.
11. Frequant minor health problems such as headaches, back pain or stomach aches.
12. Not liking yourself, feeling ugly.
13. Suicidal thoughts.
14.   Self-harming behaviour.

 Maybe 3 or 4 of the above will be present and are to be expected but a word with your GP will put your mind at rest and there will be medication that you will be given to help you over this period, please do not obtain medication in any way other than your GP who will probably be aware of you circumstances.

If several of these symptoms have been present for more than two weeks and are affecting your life, please consult your GP.

 IT'S OK TO BE STRESSED SOMETIMES,

IT HAPPENS TO EVERYONE.

What's important is to deal with it in positives ways, not in the ways that damage our health, our relationships and our wallets. If we rely on alcohol or drugs to help us cope, we can find ourselves in real trouble. Learning to relax, being more active, getting involved with others and talking or writing about how we feel are all better ways to cope.

The loss of a loved one will be a crisis point in your life, most people can find the get-up-and-go they need to deal with a crises. But what if the crises doesn't go away? We can be so busy dealing with problems that we don't notice we're stressed. Our bodies need to keep on coping in the same way.

THESE ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OF LONG-TERM STRESS.

*Unable to get restful sleep so that we're tired through the day*

*Eating more "comfort foods" which are full of fat and sugar*

*Having less energy to take exercise*

*Not feeling motivated to see people or get things done*

*Memory and concentration getting worse*

*Immune system weakens, increasing the risk of coughs and colds*

*Back pain, headaches and stomach and bowel problems are more common*

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It can be helpful to talk to a professional therapist who can help to work out the

answers to questions like:

If your problem seems a bit like this, try to talk about it with someone you trust (including your GP). Even if the best you can say is I know I shouldn't feel like this, but I can't work out why, that can be a useful first step.  Find out more at,  http://splashurl.com/ovj956u

Stress is what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when you’re attempting the game-winning free throw, or drives you to study for an exam when you'd rather be watching TV.

But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

How do you respond to stress?

It’s important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep up on you. You get used to it. It starts to feels familiar even normal. You don’t notice how much it’s affecting you, even as it takes a heavy toll.
The signs and symptoms of stress overload can be almost anything. Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways, and everyone experiences stress differently.

PLEASE NOTE.  The content of this website is a personal view by the author of the website and I have no professional training as a counsellor trained to give guidence on personal problems.  It is my personal belief that this website can help those that visit the website in understanding that they are not alone in  handling the symptoms that cause the worry during the period following bereavement.