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Invariably
when people have a tendency toward depression,
they can look back, recognizing that they
have developed a pattern of holding in
legitimate feelings, needs, and perceptions.
This may create a short term "advantage"
of avoiding uncomfortable subjects, but
in the long term it only fuels painful
emotions. Look over the following statements
to determine how many apply to you fairly
frequently:
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Before I discuss
problems with strong willed people,
I decide what I'd better do to keep
peace.
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My friends know
me as cooperative, but they'd be surprised
to learn that I feel taken advantage
of. |
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It's easier for
me to say yes and keep things superficially
friendly than it is to say no and
create temporary discomfort. |
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I have been known
to push myself beyond my physical
and emotional limits. |
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I too quickly accept
responsibility for matters that really
do not matter to me. |
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When someone else
is struggling, my sense of duty to
help is stronger than it needs to
be. |
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I frequently talk
to myself about the way I should act
to create favorable impressions. |
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I'm very hard on
myself after I have made a mistake
or disappointed someone. |
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My sleep patterns
have been irregular; either I want
to sleep too much or I cannot sleep
enough. |
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At times my sense
of right and wrong could be interpreted
as rigid. |
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There are too many
times when I act more restrained than
I really am. |
It is
not pleasant to recognize that you can
be prone to depression, but if you are
to get beyond its grasp, it is necessary
to be honest about its presence. If you
responded to at least 10 of the above
statements, there is a good chance that
depression has a hold on you. Don't give
up in despair, however, because depression
can be treated both with insight oriented
counseling and with antidepressant medicines
that can be prescribed specifically for
your combination of symptoms. Be willing
to take the next step to insure that you
get the assistance you need. You are worth
it!
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