INSIDE DOUGLAS COLLEGE / OCTOBER 16, 1990

 

 

Living with depression

Ey wondered if you’re suffer-
ing from depression? Not just
the “having a bad day” variety,
but the deep down blues that drag
on for weeks?

People who are suffering
depression generally experience a
number of symptoms, including
weight loss or gain, an increase or
decrease in sleep, feeling agitated
in your movements or finding it
difficult to get up and get going.

Other symptoms include
lower sex drive, loss of energy, feel-
ing worthless or guilty, inability to
concentrate, indecisiveness, a loss
of interest or pleasure in all your
pastimes, and recurrent thoughts
of death or suicide.

If you’ve experienced four or
more of these symptoms for more
than two weeks, a one-day
workshop at Douglas College
called Living with Depression
could help lift your sense of
despair.

“Depression is one of the most
under-diagnosed illnesses in
North America,” says Registered
Psychologist Gwen Gilliland, the
workshop leader.

“A lot of people suffering from
depression see themselves as just
being lazy, not trying hard enough
or as someone who has simply
been given a dirty deal. But clini-
cal depression is an illness which
can successfully be treated both by
medication and working on the
causes of the depression.”

To understand the difference
in the approaches, Gilliland often
poses this question to participants:
If you had a sprained ankle that
caused you to fall down some
stairs and break a leg, would you
treat the ankle or the broken leg?
Of course you'd treat the broken
leg first, then work on the ankle so
the accident wouldn’t happen
again. Similarly, the symptoms of
depression, like the pain of the

 

“Les Miz” Stars
Visit Douglas
College

O: Thursday, September 27,
two of the stars from the
hit musical “Les Miserables”
visited Douglas College and led
a lively three-hour discussion
with theatre and music students
in the theatre.

Michael Burgess, who plays
the lead role of Jean Valjean and

over 650 performances.

 

    

i Y
WW ecrls pone

David Nairn, who plays the Foreman, gave the students a rare insight
into the acting business and the hit musical which has now played

Michael worked with Henry Waack (Douglas College Music
Faculty) many years ago at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton and kind-
ly accepted his invitation to come to the College and visit the students.

The actors gave unstintingly of their time and were very im-
pressed with the enthusiasm of the students.

 

 

 

broken leg, can effectively be lifted
with medication.

Says Gilliland: “Medication
should be used when the depres-
sion is severe. Then the person can
concentrate on the causes.” (One
of the anti-depressant drugs that
will be discussed at the workshop
is Prozac, which is being hailed as
a major medical breakthrough for
sufferers).

Gilliland says 20-25 per cent of
women and eight to 12 per cent of
men experience clinical depression
at some point in their lives.

“However, if you add al-
coholism, violence and trouble
with the law, the figures for men
and women even out,” she says.
“Men tend to act out their depres-
sion in these ways, so the real
problem isn’t as readily identifi-
able.”

She says the workshop is open
to parents, spouses and others
who are close to someone who is
depressed.

The workshop is offered Satur-
day, October 27 from 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. For more information, call
Douglas College in New
Westminster at 527-5479. Or call
527-5472 to register.