Tackling Depression Can Lead To A Happier New Year

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(NAPSA)—Ascheerful and joyous as the New Year can be, it can also be a trigger for stress and depression for some people—but there is hope. There are many resources for people whofeel wrung out ringing in the New Year. For example, Marriage and Family Therapists (MFTs) can help. MFTs are licensed mental health professionals who work with individuals, couples (married or not), families ofall types, and groups to cure or relieve mental, emotional and relational concernsofall kinds. How To Recognize Depression To help youtell if you or someone you care aboutis suffering from depression, the experts at the California Asso- ciation of Marriage and Family ‘Ther- apists (CAMFT) offer these warning signs: Feeling sad and/orirritable Changesin weight or appetite Difficulty sleeping Feelings of guilt, hopelessness or worthlessness Inability to concentrate, remember things or make decisions Thoughtsof deathor suicide. How To Handle Depression If these symptomslook familiar, here are somethings to do right now: Recognize depression early. Depression can happen to anyone. It’s not a character defect, a weakness or a shameful condition.It’s a serious disorder that no one is immuneto. Engage in yourlife. If you are depressed, you mayfeel like you don't have an ounce of energy or motivation to tackle depression. Recovery, however, requires your active participation. Be willing to take thefirst step, even though it’s not easy. Build your skills. Learn why you're vulnerable to depression and At New Year's, or anytime, you don’t have to let depression get you down. Talking to a therapist can help. specific ways to become more resilient by breaking unhealthy patterns of thought and behavior. Developing good coping andrelationship skills can reduce both the frequency andseverity of depression episodes. Find the right therapist. Talking through one’s stressors and understanding the underlying causes is a proven wayto effectively treat depression. Look for therapists with training and experience in treating depression, as well as someone who is warm, supportive and goal oriented. Use short telephone interviewsto find a goodfit with potential therapists. Ask about how they approach problemslike yours. Be optimistic. You have every reason to believe you can get better with effective treatment. While anti-depressants are not a cure, they can be very helpful to some people in managing depression. Whether or not you choose to use medicine to manage your symp- toms, therapy can give you the long- term skills you needto live a productive, fulfillinglife. How To Learn More For further information about how to find a therapist, visit www. CounselingCalifornia.com.