Diego M. Rodriguez, MD

You're feeling anxious. You've lost interest in your favorite activities. You have no energy and no appetite. Yet when loved ones ask, you insist nothing is wrong. But perhaps you don't recognize it, or you don't want to: You could be depressed.

Many people don't consider depression a serious health problem, but studies suggest otherwise. Researchers found that depression impacts health much more than chronic physical conditions do, including angina, asthma, diabetes and arthritis.

Some people think they can simply "get over" depression, which might be why it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. "The truth is that depression is a very treatable problem," says Diego M. Rodriguez, MD, a psychiatrist at McAllen Medical Center. "And it's better to face the prospect that you may have a problem, rather than deny it."

There's more to depression than feeling sad occasionally. Depression is diagnosed based on the presence of certain persistent warning signs, including:

• Feeling sad, anxious or "empty"
• Feeling hopeless or pessimistic
• Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
• Loss of interest in activities once enjoyed
• Decreased energy or feeling fatigued
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
• Trouble sleeping or staying asleep; or sleeping too much
• Loss of appetite and/or weight loss; or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide
• Feeling restless and irritable
• Physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, like headaches, digestive disorders and chronic pain

Feeling Blue … or Something More?
In observance of Mental Health Month, the South Texas Behavioral Center is offering free depression screenings for adults during the entire month of May, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For an appointment, please call 956-388-1300.

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