Seek help if some feelings persist

It's normal to feel a range of intense emotions after a traumatic incident such as the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. But feelings of sadness, guilt and anger that don't go away may be warning signs of depression and should be taken seriously.

The National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Association recommends getting help early before symptoms worsen.

Symptoms of depression include:

Prolonged sadness, unexplained crying spells.

Significant changes in appetite and sleep patterns.

Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety.

Pessimism or indifference.

Loss of energy.

Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness.

Inability to take pleasure from former interests.

Alcohol or substance abuse.

Thoughts of death or suicide.

"If you experience these symptoms for more than two weeks, or if they interfere with your daily life, you should seek a doctor's care early," said Lydia Lewis, the association's executive director.

Those already living with depression need to be vigilant about following their treatment plans, the association suggests.

For more information, see the association's Web site at www.ndmda.org.

Health classes downtown: The October move of Inland Northwest Health Services to the Holley-Mason Building will mean health classes offered downtown.

Community Health Education and Resources, a part of INHS, offers classes on topics including diabetes, parenting and osteoporosis.

CHER will continue to offer its hospital-based classes after the move, and its current schedule will remain the same. But after the first of the year, some CHER classes will be offered at the Holley- Mason site.

Of course, classes won't be new to the building. Lewis and Clark High students spent two years there during remodeling of their school.

Top nurse concern: The No. 1 health and safety concern in a survey of almost 5,000 nurses was not a back injury (that was No. 2) and not contracting HIV or hepatitis from a needlestick (that was No. 3).

The top concern of nurses, according to the American Nurses Association, was stress and overwork.

Copyright 2001 Cowles Publishing Company
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