St. Mary's Medical Center

Summer 2017

Spirit of Women magazine is a national publication presented to women by hospitals and their physicians. The magazine provides up-to-date, evidence-based healthcare information and promotes our hospitals as leaders in women's health excellence.

Issue link: https://spiritofwomen.epubxp.com/i/846880

Contents of this Issue

Navigation

Page 15 of 31

Mental Health B obbe White of Quincy, Ill., had traveled for work several times a year without incident. On one business trip, however, a deep sadness gripped her hard. What she felt wasn't just a bad day. "I felt no joy in my life but had every reason why I should," she says. White had a loving husband and a job she enjoyed, yet "I found myself sobbing uncontrollably in my car," she says. It took years for White to commit to therapy, but once she did, she was able to transition to a successful public speaking career. Today, she shows others around the country how to manage stress using laughter and humor. White is just one example of how therapy and education can help combat debilitating depression. One in 10 women ages 18 to 44 has experienced symptoms of major depression in the past year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 1 in 9 women experience postpartum depression. But early treatment can help many people recover successfully. Symptoms to watch Depression, which can range in severity from mild to severe, isn't the same as rainy-day gloom or the irritation that results when you have a bad day at work. "Depression negatively impacts your entire life," says Ali Mandelblatt, a Florida psychologist. "You don't get out of bed to go to work. Or you've lost a lot of weight, you can't focus in class, or you're not relating to your Don't put up with depression: Getting the help you need By Heather R. Johnson 16 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m | S U M M E R 2 0 1 7 | S P I R I T O F W O M E N

Articles in this issue

Links on this page

Archives of this issue

view archives of St. Mary's Medical Center - Summer 2017