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. |