DBSA YUMA
MISSION STATEMENT

Yuma DBSA Support Group provides the kind of caring environment and assistance that is important to lasting recovery. 

The YUMA DBSA Support Group mission is: 

to provide a safe and welcoming forum for mutual acceptance, understanding and self discovery,  

to give participants the opportunity to reach out to others and benefit from the experience of those who have "been there," 

to motivate participants to follow their treatment plans,

to help participants understand that mood disorders do not define who they are, and

to help participants rediscover their strengths and sense of humor

THE YUMA DBSA SUPPORT GROUP IS NOT

a 12 step program

therapy or a substitute for therapy, 

a religion

a gathering for gossip or self pity

HOW TO RECOGNIZE DEPRESSION

Depression is not a character flaw or sign of personal weakness. You can't make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it" or "lighten up." And you can't catch it from someone else, although it can run in families. To understand what depression is, it's important to recognize the symptoms:

Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells

Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns

Irritability, anger, agitation

Worry, anxiety

Pessimism, indifference

Loss of energy, persistent lethargy

Unexplained aches and pains

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or hopelessness

Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness

Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal

Excessive consumption of alcohol or use of chemical substances

Recurring thoughts of death or suicide.

If you experience five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks or if any of these symptoms interfere with work or family activities, contact your
doctor for a thorough examination. This includes a complete physical exam and a review of your family's history of illness. Do not try to diagnose yourself. Only a health care professional can determine if you have depression.

BIPOLAR: MORE THAN A MOOD SWING

Unlike people with clinical (unipolar) depression, most people who have bipolar disorder talk about experiencing the "highs" and "lows" of the illness. The "high" are periods of mania or intense bursts of energy or euphoria, which include some or all of the following symptoms:

Increased physical and mental activity and energy

Heightened mood, exaggerated optimism and self-confidence

Excessive irritability, aggressive behavior

Decreased need for sleep without experiencing fatigue

Grandiose delusions, inflated sense of self importance

Racing speech, racing thoughts, flight of ideas

Impulsiveness, poor judgment, distractibility

Reckless behavior such as spending sprees, rash business decisions, erratic driving and
sexual indiscretions

In the most severe cases, delusions and hallucinations

Mood swings that come with bipolar disorder can be severe, ranging from extremes in energy to deep despair. The severity of the mood swings and the way they disrupt normal activities are what make bipolar mood episodes different from ordinary mood changes.