No shame involved to help depression, NW professor says
by Brandy Bramblett, reporter

    Students should not let the stigma associated with depression and anxiety prevent them from seeking treatment, a counselor warned students during a personal enrichment workshop last week.

    Connie Alexander, associate professor of psychology, conducted a seminar on depression and anxiety on NW Campus.

    "There's no shame in having depression. It's not a moral issue; it's not a lazy issue, and it's not a social dysfunction issue. The person has chemical changes others don't have," she said.

    The brain functions by firing a particular set of neurons in a given situation. Each time the same neural circuit is fired, it is strengthened, and the likelihood of that particular circuit being fired again increases, Alexander said. Because of this, depression and anxiety can become a vicious cycle.

    To help students understand how the brain works, Alexander offered an example. If a student became sick after eating carrots, the memory of being sick would be reactivated each time the student was offered carrots in the future, despite the fact the student may have eaten carrots without negative results many times before.

    Alexander urged students who feel worthless, hopeless or overwhelmed by everyday activities and those who entertain thoughts of suicide to seek help immediately.

    "If this is you, take responsibility as an adult. Talk to your doctor," she said.

    Alexander said 50 million people suffer from anxiety and depression, making depression the number one mental illness in the United States.

    For teens, triggers of depression and anxiety include pre-existing mental illness; family conflict, such as divorce; failure; rejection and sexual issues, especially homosexuality.

    Teenagers who are hypersensitive to criticism, who act out through delinquent behavior or who abuse alcohol and drugs may be suffering from depression, Alexander said. "Many people use drugs, including tobacco and alcohol, to regulate their brain chemistry in order to cope with the anxiety and depression they are feeling," she said.

    Parents can help teens cope simply by talking to them, Alexander said. They should also have their children screened for depression and, if necessary, placed under professional care. It is also imperative, when dealing with suicidal subjects, to lock up all medications and remove any guns from the house.

    Alexander suggests that parents read Overcoming Teen Depression: A Guide for Parents by Miriam Kaufman.

    "Don't give up because you donÕt have financial resources," she concluded. "Come see us, and we will help you find someone."