Thank you to those who have written to “dear efap” for input on your dilemmas. As you are aware, we read every inquiry that comes in but we are only able to print a small selection of responses. Our “pithy” answers are modeled after the lighter hearted Dear Abby style and are grounded in common sense. If your issues require a more personalized level of support please call EFAP (1-800-505-4929) and we can confidentially book you a counselling appointment with a senior level therapist.

Send us your questions

We welcome all inquiries – please submit these to dear.efap@efap.ca. All printed responses use the anonymous descriptor that you sign your inquiry with and do not reveal any identifying information. Our goal is to support you through insight and common sense.

Below is our response to the next selection – enjoy!

 
My life is like the last line in a country song – you know, it’s raining, I got kicked out of my house ( yup – evicted), my girlfriend left me (yup) and my dog died (well, luckily my dog didn’t die) and life pretty much stinks. I feel kind of depressed, but I also have a lot of pretty significant aches and pains. Now I’m googling and self-diagnosing myself with all kinds of terminal illnesses, so I went to a clinic and they told me I was “fine,” but clearly I’m not. I’m not suicidal, but I’m also not managing well at all. Can you help me? Any thoughts would be appreciated.
– Got the Painful Blues.

Dear Got the Painful Blues,
It sounds like there is a lot going on for you, and we are here to help (1800-505-4929). The internet is a great thing – except for when it comes to looking up symptoms. Google, as good as it is, does not replace medical school. You are not alone in participating in this kind of self -assessment frenzy, remember though, a Doctor, not a computer, is best to help you with a diagnosis. The internet can provide information, but without training it can often lead on to unnecessary panic. So, I would recommend taking yourself to a live doctor for a check- up. Pain is a message to us that something is not quite right, and getting a Doctor to look into it thoroughly for you is honestly a necessary first step.

You mentioned that you have gone to a clinic and they said that you were fine, so I would encourage you to go to your family Doctor (if you have one), or another clinic, or back to the same clinic and let them know your pain has not gone away, and then really sit and tell them your story.

As it gets darker and rainier this time of year, some symptoms of depression can indeed show up. In an effort to get an idea of what you’re dealing with, consider these questions: Have you been sleeping too little or sleeping too much? Have you gained or lost weight? Have you felt highly agitated or sluggish? Have you been extremely sad or very bad tempered, or both? Have you had a loss of interest in the pleasures of life, work, family and/or friends? Have you been unable to concentrate or make decisions? Have you felt negative, anxious, trapped, despairing, guilty and/or unworthy? Have you had fatigue and an overall loss of energy? Have you had unexplained aches and pains? “A diagnosis of depression is arrived at when one has been experiencing at least five of these symptoms for a period of two weeks or more.” * And so, my friend if you have ticked the requisite number of boxes then I would really recommend you take yourself to the Doctor and have a chat with them about what’s going on. It may be that you’re in line for some counselling, some medication or perhaps both.

It might interest you to know that there is a “shared neural pathway for pain and depression with serotonin and norepinephrine involved in both mood and pain.”* Research has also shown that “the higher the number of unexplained physical symptoms a person is experiencing, the more likely that they are suffering from depression.”* – so, best to go and get some help to sort it out. Depression is treatable; together we can work to switch those country blues into the first few steps of a happy dance.

Link

http://www.mooddisorderscanada.ca/

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The advice offered in this column is meant to be used as general guidance based on the facts provided. The opinions or views expressed should not be relied on as treatment or counselling services. If you do find yourself in need of counselling or support, please contact EFAP toll free at 1-800-505-4929 or 604-872-4929, your family doctor, or another appropriately trained and qualified specialist.