Symptoms may include:

1. Loss of appetite or overeating.
2. Increased tiredness, a loss of zest for life and daily activities especially ones that were once enjoyed. You may also have the sense it is not worth the effort to do anything anymore.
   
3. Crying often, sometimes for no particular reason at all, just feeling a sense of hopelessness or sadness that doesn't go away
   
4. Problems with sleeping at night ranging from the inability to sleep to over-sleeping.
5. Loss of energy resulting in feeling increased levels of fatigue
6. A distinct decrease in most daily activities including sex
   
7. Feelings of helplessness,low self esteem,unworthiness
   
8. Contemplating or having thoughts about suicide
9. The inability to concentrate or make decisions no more
   
10. Rapid weight loss or rapid weight gain

• If you have at least four of these signs and they are lasting for more than a week or so then there is a good chance you have depression. Never hesitate to seek help

ABOUT ME

I am no medical practitioner, offering prescription medications or medical treatment. However I am someone who has suffered depression in my past. I have endured even the most severe forms, partly genetic, but mainly stemming from some horrific ordeals I endured. I intend to share these experiences here at some stage. My story here is meant to inspire and motivate you, to tell you there is hope and a way out of the darkness and the 'strongholds of deep depression'.

"A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't"

Included in this story are poems I have written that I would like to share, which I wrote in times of my life where I have needed help from inspiration myself.

With every passing day life brings,
I raise my heart and spread my wings.
Otherwise I’ll lose the plan,
To fight for life with open hands.
Although some dreams may never live,
There’s always life that I can bring.
My smile can light a thousand trees,
And in return shine back to me.
lf l can touch on one whose strayed,.
Then all is worth the joy I’ve laid.

Copyright © 2009 Deb Murarenko

Do you know that all your future,
Is yours to hold and keep?,
Do you know that you can surface,
When the waters are too deep?.

Do you know that you are lovely?,
More lovely than you know,
One day the light will shine on you,
And you will know it's so.

Have you felt sometimes like giving up?,
When your world comes tumbling in,
Do you know you’ve got the courage,
To stand up strong and win.

Do you feel the bite of solitude?,
Do you cry those lonely tears?,
Do you know you’ve got your inner strength,
To shine throughout your years.

Do you know that in this world,
There’s no-one quite like you?,
You’re more worthy than you’ll ever know,
Oh can’t you see it too.

So strive and reach, battle forward,
Lift up your heart in glee,
And shout unto the world today,
I’m happy to be me.

Copyright © Deb Murarenko 2009

1. Make Goals For Yourself
2. Think about what you really want from life, in a realistic way. Don't just think about ideas, write them down. Set little goals as well as larger ones. While you are striving to take the steps to achieve those goals that may take some time, you can be experiencing the joys that come from reaching the smaller ones as well. Give yourself reasons to feel achievement again in your life.
3. Smile
   
4. Surround Yourself With Positive People
   
5. If most of the company you keep, is from people who bring a lot of negativity and gloom to your life, you need to really evaluate these friendships.
6. Keep Busy
7. Take up a hobby you have always wanted to try. If you are unemployed try and find some work you enjoy. Unemployment can bring about depression on its own, including loss of motivation, loss of self worth, depression over grim money issues. With working, there comes a sense of achievement, self- respect, opposed to the negativities that idleness does deliver.
8. Try adding a little exercise each day. Force yourself to get out in the fresh air and go for a brisk walk.The benefits of exercise are amazing. Believe it or not exercise will gradually raise your energy levels as well as doing wonders for the body. I love walking, I use it as a time to let my mind go free, to get out from the house and breathe the fresh air. I come home rejuvenated and energised, free of any stress I had before.
9. If you are a writer, begin to write again.Writing can be incredibly therapeutic.I have used writing myself, in times of lows and depression. I find that my writing down my thoughts it helps me release the negative ones. I also found that by writing inspiring poetry,often involving the troubles I was in, I too was inspired to overcome so much in my life.
10. Begin To love and cherish the unique person you are and begin to focus on what you can do for others
11. Somehow you have to stop finding reasons to put yourself down, allowing yourself to exist in the misery you are living in, and to realise that this is not what you deserve, in any way, shape or form.
12. Be kinder on yourself. Realise that by learning to love and respect yourself, you soon learn you don't deserve to live like shit, as you begin to expect much more from life for yourself. When you value yourself, insecurities and low self esteem issues begin to dissolve, as you become empowered with a strength that brings you peace just by accepting the' value of yourself' and what' not to accept for yourself.'
13. Reach for others.Think of what you can do to bring others joy. By doing kind and loving deeds for others. This stops you from thinking continually about yourself and your woes, replaced by a happiness in your spirit, from giving out to others. Concentrating on other's needs, will do wonders for your morale,as you begin to see outside just the shell that you are existing in, as you look to showing kindness to other people.

  Start saying "I can, not "I cant.

'Without dreams and goals we merely exist,we are only a fraction of the person we can be.'

Realise that inside of everyone there is an incredible strength to get us through anything. Begin to draw from that strength. Let each downfall in life make you stronger in mind and spirit to tackle your next hurdle.

'You will never get to where you want to be, until you realise you can'

Begin to realise that life goes by so fast, it doesnt wait for us. We only have one crack at it. Dont waste time in darkness, make your life what you want it to be.

I found that times when I felt my worse, by surrounding myself with positive people, it made a huge difference to the way I felt. The encouragement and love from people who really care about you, can reflect greatly on your sense of well-being. Also by forcing yourself to spend time with others, it gets you out of the house, and stops you sitting there alone dwelling on your negative thoughts that hit harder in times when we are alone.

'You will never get to where you want to be, until you realise you can'

'Nothing ever ends because for every ending there is also a beginning'

Open your eyes from the darkness and see all the beauty in the small things your depression has clouded your eyes from.

You can recover from anything.I have sat in the gutter many times in my past, but always managed to pull myself out. It is by no means easy. However It's something only you can do for yourself.

'Live, love, laugh,and reach out your hand, for there may be no tomorrow. Be all you can while you can'

There is some-one to love you,
Don’t be despaired,
There is some-one to love you,
Some-where out there.

Each one of us beautiful,
In some-body’s eyes,
There is some-one to love you,
In Love’s Paradise.

Love Will come find you,
One bright Summer’s day,
Its' arms Will embrace you,
And sweep you away.

In some-body’s heart,
You blossom so fair,
There is some-one to love you,
Some-where out there.

Copyright © 2009 Deb Murarenko

All rights reserved.No part of the poetry on this page may be

reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means

without written permission of the author.