Hello and welcome to Episode 002 of the Mental Health Awareness podcast. I’m your co host Jen (and I’m Jason) and welcome to the second episode. A place where we quickly dispel the myths, misconceptions, and misunderstandings of mental health in short, digestible episodes, so that you can leave feeling empowered, informed, and encouraged! If you find this podcast helpful, we would ask that you subscribe and share it with your friends.

Today's topic: What is depression?

So what is depression?

• What is DSM? Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, used to diagnose mental disorders.
• Based on DSM-5 criteria, "unipolar depression" is marked by experiencing 5 of the following symptoms, at least 2 weeks or more.

Symptoms to look out for in yourself or in others, taken from DSM-V diagnostic criteria

1. Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day.
2. Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
3. Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain, or decrease or increase in appetite nearly every day.
4. A slowing down of thought and a reduction of physical movement (observable by others, not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
5. Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
6. Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
7. Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly every day.
8. Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.

What isn't depression?

• It isn't typical responses to life, e.g. loss of a loved one

Thanks for tuning in to Episode 2 of Mental Health Awareness. Stay tuned for Episode 003, Ways to treat depression. I'm your co-host Jason (and I'm Jen) If you found the information here helpful to you, please share it with your friends and family, and subscribe here at the link in the show notes below. Stay tuned for the next episode and some free resources.

Resources:

Book: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom

Book: The Road Back to You, Ian Morgan Cron

App: Habit Tracker to track your daily habits

App: MyFitnessPal to track your food intake

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If you have any suggestions about topics of discussion or questions you may have, leave us a message. Our goal here is to create an open forum about mental health & to increase your awareness. Email us at mentalhealthawarenessjj@gmail.com

Thanks!