Put your mental health first February 8, 2012, 3:49 PM
So, how are you feeling today? How is your mood? Are you feeling optimistic or a bit discouraged? Have you been feeling more down than up, lately? Why not take this moment and check-in with yourself? As a caregiver, you’re at greater risk of developing depression which can be incapacitating if left untreated. This self-assessment questionnaire from the Mayo Clinic may help you get a better read on what you may or may not be experiencing so that you can seek assistance from a health care professional. But you don’t need to do a self-screen in order to seek help. If you think you’re depressed, call your family doctor today or seek out other community resources. Put yourself first on this one. Think of it like the oxygen masks that appear from above when something goes wrong on an airplane. Adults travelling with small children are advised to put their mask on first so that they can in turn care for their children. Same rule applies here.