by Christine Hammond on July 19, 2019
“Depressed” is a combination of ‘de’ which means down and ‘press’ which is to flatten. Thus the meaning is a deep flattening down. It is stronger than sadness which is a short-term condition. Rather, depression lasts for a notable period of time and is present regardless of surroundings, people, lifestyle, and abilities. Contrary to some… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 7, 2018
Amy’s anxiety was through the roof. She couldn’t remember the last time she felt at peace. Her mind raced obsessively with thoughts of worst-possible outcomes, reliving past hurts over and over, and fortune-telling what everyone around her was thinking. She found herself going to dark places of imagining what would happen if her husband died,… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Not all depressions are created equal. Some depressions are major, chemical, hormonal, cyclical, seasonal, chronic, psychotic, persistent, or medical with each having a level from mild to severe/suicidal. But another common type of depression is situational, better known in counseling as adjustment disorder with depressed mood. Adjustment disorder happens when a change in lifestyle, loss… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
Sixteen years ago to the date, my best friend committed suicide. She was beautiful inside and out with a compassionate heart too large for her physical body. As one of the smartest people I knew, she loved to engage in passionate discussions about her favorite subject: politics. She had more energy and could cram more… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 12, 2017
After sixteen years, I can still remember the day of the Columbine shootings. Two high school students, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, injured 24 people, killed 13 and then killed themselves. The media coverage continued for months with many stories of the deaths and survivors of the tragedy. Admittedly, I did not give much thought… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on October 8, 2017
It is one thing to study postpartum depression as a professional and it is a whole different matter to experience it personally. As a counselor, I knew the signs of the disorder but while experiencing it, I was oblivious to their symptoms. Fortunately, I had a wonderful doctor who quickly and accurately assessed the different… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on February 8, 2017
Depression has its own signs and symptoms but when mixed with a personality disorder (PD) it can be more elusive. Each PD has a different manifestation of depression with varying levels of intensity. While not all depression becomes homicidal or suicidal, the risks for this possibility are presented as a word of caution. The following… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on December 13, 2016
It is generally accepted that there are five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Following a death, these stages can be done consecutively or in a mixed order. There is no proper way to manage grief other than to go through the entire process and not stay stuck in denial. However, when… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on November 2, 2016
Depression is a tricky thing. What might seem like a typical sign and symptom of depression might not be. Here are ten unusual signs of depression. A person might: Have the ability to hyper-focus for long periods of time even to the point of giving up sleep.Typical depression is struggling to keep on task and… (more…)
by Christine Hammond on May 12, 2015
A depressed marriage? What is that? Just like people can become depressed over the loss of someone they love, the economy or a real estate financial crisis, so too can a marriage suffer from depression. A depression in marriage, however, does not mean that it is over. Rather, it is a low period in a… (more…)