Heal The Abuse - Recover Your Life by Jason Goodwin Page B
Authors: Jason Goodwin
Tags: Psychology, Abuse, Anxiety, depression, Alcoholism, Addiction, therapy, recovery, ptsd, Prostitution, sexual abuse, drug addiction, counseling, molestation, molest, posttraumatic stress disorder, recover
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reason. It
takes a specific event or set of circumstances to make them feel
happy or sad.
Even the most positive life includes ups and
downs, but chronic depression can rob you of the good times. It
took me a long while to decide that I deserved a normal chance of
feeling happy. Now I have that, and my quality of life has improved
more than I can say.
Even if you are depressed solely as a result
of the sexual abuse, anti-depressant medication may help you
through a difficult time. If you are struggling with depression,
ask your doctor or psychiatrist if medication treatment is
appropriate for you.
Of course, antidepressants are not a
substitute for working through our emotional issues. For most of
us, counseling is another very effective way to reduce depression.
Challenging our negative thinking can help to reverse our
depressive symptoms.
People who do not suffer from a genetic or
biological depression can often discontinue the use of
antidepressant medication over time. If you are like me, and your
depression has a long, family history, take heart in knowing that
you may be able to find an antidepressant that works well with
minimal side effects.
Part of the reason I avoided medication
treatment for so long was because I wanted to punish myself. I
believed that only bad little boys were sexually abused.
It requires a certain amount of self-esteem
to seek medical attention. We have to realize that we deserve to
feel better, or at least that we deserve a normal chance of feeling
happy.
Depression is a normal emotion. Everyone
experiences depression from time to time. If your depression
becomes crippling, please get the help you need.
Exercise 12-1
Depression Self-Test
-These are the criteria for major depression
taken from the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders).
_____ 1. I feel depressed most of the day,
almost every day.
_____ 2. I am less interested and get less
pleasure than I used to out of all, or almost all,
of my activities during the day.
_____ 3. I have experienced a change of more
than 5% of my body weight in a month,
or have a decrease or increase in appetite
nearly every day.
_____ 4. I have trouble sleeping, or I
oversleep nearly every day.
_____ 5. I feel either agitated or “slow”
nearly every day.
_____ 6. I feel tired and have low energy
nearly every day.
_____ 7. I feel bad about myself or feel a
lot of guilt nearly every day.
_____ 8. I have a hard time concentrating or
making decisions nearly every day.
_____ 9. I sometimes have thoughts of death,
or feel suicidal.
All of these symptoms can be indicators of
major depression. If you are experiencing one or more of the
symptoms above, see your doctor or psychiatrist to get a screening
for depression. Remember, suicide is never the answer. If you ever
feel suicidal, or know someone who is feeling suicidal, immediately
contact a suicide hotline, a counselor, or the police to ensure
your safety or the safety of the person involved.
Process Questions
How often and in what circumstances do I feel
depressed?
What does depression feel like to me?
Have I seen a doctor or psychiatrist to get a
screening for clinical depression? Have I followed through on any
recommended treatment?
How would my life improve if I overcame my
depression?
Which techniques help me to cope with
feelings of depression? (Medication, counseling, keeping a journal,
talking about it, getting out and engaging in social and
recreational activities, exercising at least 3 times a week, light
therapy, creative outlets like art or music, positive thinking,
etc…)
Stepping Stones to Health
Depression
-Try to identify where you are in the
stepping-stones to health, and the next step or steps you need to
take.
_____ 1. I feel depressed a lot, and have
never done anything to try to reduce my depression.
_____ 2. I was told by someone that I should
do something about my
takes a specific event or set of circumstances to make them feel
happy or sad.
Even the most positive life includes ups and
downs, but chronic depression can rob you of the good times. It
took me a long while to decide that I deserved a normal chance of
feeling happy. Now I have that, and my quality of life has improved
more than I can say.
Even if you are depressed solely as a result
of the sexual abuse, anti-depressant medication may help you
through a difficult time. If you are struggling with depression,
ask your doctor or psychiatrist if medication treatment is
appropriate for you.
Of course, antidepressants are not a
substitute for working through our emotional issues. For most of
us, counseling is another very effective way to reduce depression.
Challenging our negative thinking can help to reverse our
depressive symptoms.
People who do not suffer from a genetic or
biological depression can often discontinue the use of
antidepressant medication over time. If you are like me, and your
depression has a long, family history, take heart in knowing that
you may be able to find an antidepressant that works well with
minimal side effects.
Part of the reason I avoided medication
treatment for so long was because I wanted to punish myself. I
believed that only bad little boys were sexually abused.
It requires a certain amount of self-esteem
to seek medical attention. We have to realize that we deserve to
feel better, or at least that we deserve a normal chance of feeling
happy.
Depression is a normal emotion. Everyone
experiences depression from time to time. If your depression
becomes crippling, please get the help you need.
Exercise 12-1
Depression Self-Test
-These are the criteria for major depression
taken from the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders).
_____ 1. I feel depressed most of the day,
almost every day.
_____ 2. I am less interested and get less
pleasure than I used to out of all, or almost all,
of my activities during the day.
_____ 3. I have experienced a change of more
than 5% of my body weight in a month,
or have a decrease or increase in appetite
nearly every day.
_____ 4. I have trouble sleeping, or I
oversleep nearly every day.
_____ 5. I feel either agitated or “slow”
nearly every day.
_____ 6. I feel tired and have low energy
nearly every day.
_____ 7. I feel bad about myself or feel a
lot of guilt nearly every day.
_____ 8. I have a hard time concentrating or
making decisions nearly every day.
_____ 9. I sometimes have thoughts of death,
or feel suicidal.
All of these symptoms can be indicators of
major depression. If you are experiencing one or more of the
symptoms above, see your doctor or psychiatrist to get a screening
for depression. Remember, suicide is never the answer. If you ever
feel suicidal, or know someone who is feeling suicidal, immediately
contact a suicide hotline, a counselor, or the police to ensure
your safety or the safety of the person involved.
Process Questions
How often and in what circumstances do I feel
depressed?
What does depression feel like to me?
Have I seen a doctor or psychiatrist to get a
screening for clinical depression? Have I followed through on any
recommended treatment?
How would my life improve if I overcame my
depression?
Which techniques help me to cope with
feelings of depression? (Medication, counseling, keeping a journal,
talking about it, getting out and engaging in social and
recreational activities, exercising at least 3 times a week, light
therapy, creative outlets like art or music, positive thinking,
etc…)
Stepping Stones to Health
Depression
-Try to identify where you are in the
stepping-stones to health, and the next step or steps you need to
take.
_____ 1. I feel depressed a lot, and have
never done anything to try to reduce my depression.
_____ 2. I was told by someone that I should
do something about my
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