Understanding the difference between clinical depression a general state of feeling blue

By Jesse Stanford

“Why don’t I care about the things I used to care about?” “Why can’t I see a future for myself?” “Why don’t I have enough energy to serve those I care about most?” “Why do I feel tired all of the time?” “What’s wrong with me?”

Do you ever ask yourself these questions? You might be wondering if it is normal to have these “blue” feelings now and then.  The answer is, absolutely! We all go through periods of feeling “blue.” For most of us, these periods of sadness typically last for a few days. However, those who struggle with clinical depression have feelings of a depressed mood that last 2 weeks or more.

Women are 70% more likely to struggle with depression than men (Major Depressive Disorder in Adults). If you are a woman who struggles with clinical depression, you will be able to identify with 3-5 of the symptoms listed below lasting at least 2 weeks, and these symptoms generally interfere with your daily activities and relationships.

• Loss of hope
• Sad or depressed mood almost every day
• Loss of pleasure
• Fatigue
• Insomnia
• Significant weight loss
• Difficulty concentrating almost every day
• Feelings of worthlessness
• Frequent thoughts of death and/or suicide

Grief versus Depression

“Have I recently been impacted by a major life transition such as career change, loss of a relationship, loss of a loved one, or a child going away to college?”

If you answered, “Yes,” to this question, your depressive symptoms are better characterized by bereavement. You can find hope in knowing that depressive symptoms are a natural stage of the grieving process. In fact, research shoes that 35% to 58% of individuals experience symptoms congruent with clinical depression one month following a major loss (Depression, Bereavement, and “Understandable” Intense Sadness: Should the DSM-IV Approach Be Revised?). These symptoms will likely dramatically decrease after 2 months.

Coping with feeling “blue”

If you are struggling with grief, or are a general state of feeling blue, there are a few things you can do to help yourself.

1). Make yourself do something, even if it’s small.

“I’m just going to get up and (Fill in the blank)”

• Walk around the block
• Eat a bowl of cereal
• Read one magazine article
• Call my mom/friend/dad/relative
• Go for a walk/run
• Walk the dog
• Go to the grocery store
• Bake a cake

2). Write down your thoughts and feelings or talk about them with someone you trust.

3) Join a support group through your local church or counseling center

3) Visit websites for more ideas about how to cope with depression

Focus on the Family

Depression-Beyond Serotonin

Psychology Today- Depression Treatment

Give up Perfection

Treatment for Clinical Depression

If you think you may struggle with clinical depression, visit Psychology Today and make an appointment with a psychiatrist or counselor to determine if you may need anti-depressant medication.

Jesse Stanford is a professional counselor in Atlanta, specializing in women’s issues, abuse survivors, and trauma. For more information, visit www.jessestanford.com.

“Pink Slime” has been oozing its way back into the media again — causing a serious uproar among healthy diet advocates, conscious consumers, parents, and educators. Labeled by The United States Department of Agriculture as “boneless lean beef trimmings” or “lean, finely textured beef,” this meat filler (commonly added to ground beef) is made of scraps of beef fat and connective tissue – and is full of deadly diseases such as E-coli and Salmonella. The scraps are treated with ammonia gas to kill the bacteria, making it “safe” for human consumption. Though the USDA stands by these claims, many Americans are outraged.

The buzz over  “Pink Slime” first began back in April 2011, when a video clip of celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution was posted on YouTube. In the clip, Chef Oliver re-enacted the process of making the “slime” by placing scraps of beef fat in a washing machine — afterwards mixing it with household ammonia and water, then running it through a meat grinder (while audience members gasp in disgust). Chef Oliver explained that the trimmings come from the outer-most part of the cow; the product was once considered useless due to its high bacteria content – making it only suitable for turning into dog food (since dog’s stomachs can handle it).

Oliver states in the video, “The supporters of this product would say it is safe and efficient, but everything about this process to me is about no respect for food, or people, or children.”

After the launch of the video, fast food joints like McDonalds and Burger King rejected the use of the meat filler.

Recently, however, The Daily reported the USDA would be purchasing 7 million pounds of the ammonia treated ‘slime’ for the governments free and reduced- price school lunch program. The shocking announcement ignited a public outcry that led to the USDA to offer an alternative plan.

According to NPR’s food blog SALT, over the course of the next year, school administrators will have a choice to order beef without “pink slime” or not.

However, the debate over the safety and use of “pink slime” still remains — and it’s not only the common consumer who has expressed a concern.

Carl Custer, a microbiologist who worked at the Food Safety Inspection Service for 35 years, stated to The Daily, “We looked at the product and we objected to it because it used connective tissues instead of muscle. It was simply not nutritionally equivalent [to ground beef]. My main objection was that it was not meat.”

Yet, the USDA stands by their claims that the product is safe.

“There’s a firestorm with people misunderstanding the situation…we are 100 percent behind the safety of this product. No question about it,” stated Kathleen Merrigan, the Department of Agriculture’s Deputy Secretary, in an interview at the Thunderbird School of Global Management in Phoenix (as reported on AZFamily.com).

Another issue of concern is that of price. Since the beef trimmings are used as fillers, the inability to use them will mean more actual meat will be needed – leading to a higher cost of ground beef as ranchers work to raise more cattle.

In an opposing ban on “Pink Slime,” Iowa Governor Terry Branstad stated at a recent news conference, “You effectively need to kill 1.5 million more head of cattle in a year to replace the meat that would go off the market from this unwarranted, unmerited food scare. That’s why we’re pushing back on it…. We’ll do everything we can to set the record straight.”

It’s hard to decide what’s more frightening: that we’ve been led to believe we’re eating actual beef — or that the government is more concerned about a shortage in beef products than they are about serving us what is essentially ammonia-treated dog food.

For those concerned over the use of “pink slime” in their area, there are several ways to get involved. You can start by contacting the head of your local school to find out if they’re using meat with this product in it. You may also want to reach out to super markets, butchers shops and even local restaurants. Another way to voice your concern is by visiting the Facebook page, “ Stop Pink Slime.” Lastly, send a letter to your congressman asking that any meat that includes this filler be clearly labeled as such.

Life is chalk full of choices — but along with those choices come many consequences.  What easier and more palpable way to swallow the more negative ones we make than by pointing the finger and curling up in a victimized fetal position?

Often, when faced with the negative outcomes of our choices, we prefer to imagine that there always HAS to be something that was done to us first — because to actually take responsibility, and admit that the negative outcome was in direct relation to a choice and action WE made, is more than unnerving!

This kind of acceptance of our own responsibility often places before us a disturbing reflection of ourselves and our actions…reminiscent of one we might see in the fun-house mirror at the circus.

In this day and age, when most of us are intelligent enough to self-diagnose the nature of our individual flaws, and acknowledge the sometimes-negative effects of our actions, why is it still so hard to “take the blame?”

Perhaps seeing it as blame – rather than responsibility – is the root of the problem.

Some definitions of responsibility include on “the state or fact of being accountable for something,” “duty to deal with something,” “liability,” or “obligation.” All of these words sound stern, off-putting, and distasteful! But what about seeing responsibility in light of the two words it comes from: “respond/response” and “ability”?

In this light, responsibility — the ability (“talent that enables,” “capacity to do something”) to respond becomes a positive quality – rather than one of blame and indictment.

Similarly accountability (“to be responsible to someone or for some activity”) simply becomes the ability to provide clear and rational answers or explanations for your choices.

Realizing that you have the ability to think about your actions and make choices — with a knowledge that you want to be able to explain them and feel good about them later – is actually empowering! Looking at accountability and responsibility as positive qualities to aim for in every situation will ensure your actions, choices and behaviors remain at your highest levels – and result in the best possible outcome for all involved.

Stephanie Benoit is a Certified Life Coach who specializes in motivation and empowerment. An editor, writer, and contributor for several magazines, she loves to share her gift of writing with the world.  She aspires to inspire people to reach their goals and God-given purpose. To reach Stephanie, email her at sbenoit1@gmail.com, or follow her on twitter: @stephaniebenoit.

Last Thursday (April 19), the Dove Awards, gospel music’s Grammys, were held at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta.  I was lucky enough to be able to cover them, so I thought I’d share some quick takes on the experience.

The red carpet was inside the entrance of the theatre and I saw Mary Mary being interviewed, both ladies standing out with one dressed in blue and the other in orange.  One highlight was watching Yolanda Adams, Karen Peck, Crystal Lewis and Angie Stone sing “I go to the rock” which Whitney Houston had sang at the Dove Awards some years ago. Another was hearing the Isaacs really lay on southern gospel harmonies.  And Jamie-Grace gave the sweetest acceptance speech when she won the best new artist awards. “My prom was here four years ago, and my mom brought me here. This is a dream come true.”

Most of the artists came backstage to talk to the press and here are some of the highlights:

Jason Crabb [on winning artist of the year and male vocalist]:  “I’m very thankful; I come from a small town in Kentucky and never thought I’d be singing on the stage with all these people much less anything like this. I’m having a blast living my dream, and would encourage everyone to go after theirs.”

Angie Stone [demurring when asked if she was planning to do a gospel album]: “I think music is the highest form of praise…If you start on a platform that leads you to that place then it’s ordained by God.  But my advice is do pure good music that is inspired by God. [When asked who she was wearing]: This dress is five or six years old. But I can fit into it again so I’m wearing me!”

Montell Jordan [when asked if he would do secular music again]:  “I did not leave secular music for gospel music; I am now in full-time ministry.  I also have the blessing of being a worship pastor at Victory World Church [Norcross, Georgia].”

The best comment from a non-artiste came when singer Wess Morgan’s dad took to the stage. Morgan has a past abusing cocaine and serving time in jail  and his dad, who is a pastor was asked what do you with a prodigal child.  “The prodigal’s father never ran after the child.  Our role is to fatten the calf because he’s coming home,” he said. “Hold on to them and see God bring them back.”

To see all winners, go to the GMC website.

Image Source: www.gettyimages.com (Yolanda Adams, Crystal Lews, Angie Stone and Karen Peck)

Time really goes by fast!

I can’t believe that this year marks the seventh year of Hope for Women’s journey.  Talk about a leap of faith!  May 2005 seems like it was only yesterday…

I’m really grateful that so many of you have stood by my side, and walked with me on this journey to give women what they need most…HOPE!!! It’s amazing when we look back over our lives, and sometimes find ourselves thinking, “How in the world did I get through that?”

Sometimes we really don’t realize the strength we have. Sometimes it seems like the downs outweigh the ups! But throughout it all, if we just keep pressing on, persevering through thick and thin…somehow, we still manage — through faith — to keep moving forward.

Now, believe me:  through the years, I’ve had people say to me, “Get a real job!” And one person has gone so far as to tell me that if the only thing I had was faith and hope in my vision then I had nothing! Not to mention, there’s nothing like being excited, and sharing your dream and your progress with the people you love — and then they ask, “Well, if all these great things are happening, where is (fill in the blank)?”…or, “When is (fill in the blank) going to come to pass??”

Now, it would have been very easy for me to throw in the towel.  I may have even shed a tear or two behind it all. But I kept moving.  Because, in looking back, when I was inspired to do Hope — and I do believe I was inspired by God — He showed me the beginning and the end (as He often does)…but not the in-between.

The in-between is why I’m sharing this blog with you today.  It’s the in-between that is sometimes unknown, scary – and yet, it’s also the place where you have to keep going…even when you don’t feel like it.   In-between is often when you feel like throwing in the towel and just saying, “I’m done.”  Although I love Hope, and the vision and mission that it stands for, in-between it all, I’ve even had those days — when I’ve asked myself the question, “Girl, why do you keep going?”

But I realized since that very first day that Hope was much bigger than me. In-between all the challenges, I’ve realized I’m just the vessel — or the messenger — and this is what I believe I was put on earth to do — to inspire you to Hope!

Let me be honest.  My supportive family invested everything they had in the vision of Hope because they believed with me, and they have always encouraged me.  Still, in-between, I haven’t always had the financial resources needed when I’ve needed them, and it’s often been a challenge.

But I never gave up believing; and every day for seven years I have gotten up, gotten dressed, and started my work day, believing that, “This will be the BIG day that day we will land that big account or angel investor.”  And I’m still believing that BIG day will come!

During these seven years, I’ve also come to realize that Hope may never be as big as some of the top magazines on the newsstands; and it may take forever to find that angel investor with that once-in-a-lifetime-seed.

But one thing is for certain: in-between those other magazines that promise to show you “how to make love to your man in 50 ways”… or profess to share the tips to “looking really good, really naked”…

Not one of them will be able to reach way down and touch your heart and soul – and everything in-between…like Hope will!

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Photo Credit:  Rebecca Shehorn Photography