[h=1]Depression Help Guide[/h]
Feeling down from time to time is a normal part of life. But when emptiness and despair take hold and won't go away, it may be depression. More than just the temporary "blues," the lows of depression make it tough to function and enjoy life.
Depression can make you feel helpless, hopeless, or empty and numb; but there’s a lot you can do to change how you feel. With help and support, you can overcome depression and get your life back.
The key to recovery is to start small and take things one day at a time. Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day and draw on the support of others.
[h=3]Do you have a problem with depression? Take this quiz and find out.[/h] Take this quiz to learn more about how depression might be affecting you.
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[TD="colspan: 7"]Am I Depressed?[/TD]
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Not at all
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A little
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Somewhat
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Moderately
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Quite a lot
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Very much
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[TD]1. I do things slowly
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[TD="class: odd"]2. My future appears hopeless
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[TD]3. It is hard for me to concentrate on reading
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[TD="class: odd"]4. The pleasure and fun has gone out of my life
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[TD]5. I find it hard to make decisions
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[TD="class: odd"]6. I have lost interest in things that used to be important to me
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[TD]7. I feel unhappy, depressed, sad
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[TD="class: odd"]8. I feel agitated and unable to relax
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[TD]9. I feel tired
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[TD="class: odd"]10. It takes a lot of effort for me to do simple things
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[TD]11. I feel guilty and I deserve to be punished
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[TD="class: odd"]12. I feel like a failure
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[TD]13. I feel numb and lifeless, more dead than alive
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[TD="class: odd"]14. My sleep is disturbed; I'm sleeping too much or too little
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[TD="class: warning"]15. I spend time thinking HOW I can commit suicide*
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[TD="class: odd"]16. I feel trapped or confined
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[TD]17. I feel depressed even when good things happen to me
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[TD="class: odd"]18. I have lost weight or put it on without being on a diet
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[h=2]
Score: [/h] A note about your score: Sometimes others are able to assess us easier than we’re able to assess ourselves. If possible, have someone close to you also complete this quiz for you, then compare answers.
Interpreting your score:
[TABLE="class: table"]
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Score
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Your depression level
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[TD]0 to 9
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No depression. Your score does not indicate symptoms of depression.
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[TD="class: odd"]10 to 17
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Possible minor depression. It’s normal to feel down occasionally but if the lows fill you with despair, you may have minor depression.
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[TD]18 to 21
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On the verge of depression. Depression isn’t always about feeling hopeless. Fatigue, anger, sleep problems, and loss of interest in hobbies, for example, can also indicate a problem.
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[TD="class: odd"]21 to 35
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Minor to moderate depression. Your depression symptoms may be interfering with your ability to work, study, eat, sleep, and have fun.
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[TD]36 to 53
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Moderate to severe depression. Your depression is affecting your ability to enjoy life and experience pleasure.
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[TD="class: odd"]54+
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Severe depression. Your depression is keeping you from living the life you want; it’s time to seek professional help.
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Next Step
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Read Depression Symptoms & Warning Signs
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This questionnaire is not intended to replace professional diagnosis.
Source:
Goldberg Depression Test, Dr. Ivan Goldberg
http://www.helpguide.org/topics/depression.htm
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