MARTHA AGUILAR
Lacey, WA
Living with: Depression
It's hard to pinpoint when I started to experience depression. It's not as if there is an X-ray or a blood test that tells you your sadness has morphed into depression. But in my early 20s, I started to have crying episodes I couldn't stop. I didn't fully understand why this was happening, but I would have to get into bed until the episode was over, which often took several hours.
Years later, I had an episode in which I almost took my own life. I was hospitalized and took leave from work for almost a year. I was terrified that I wouldn't ever be well enough again to support myself. I also felt the stigma of depression when people would say things to me like "It's not that bad-you're making a big deal out of nothing" and "Why can't you just get over it?" But I was open to trying anything that might help. I went to a therapist, took new medication, attended Buddhist meditation sessions, tried different coaching techniques, and saw a naturopath, among other things.
This story is from the December 2022 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 2022 edition of Prevention US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
5 Myths About Cancer
The "C" word is scary enough without misinformation making things worse. Here are a few "I've heards" that you don't need to listen to anymore.
EAT FOR STRONG BONES
The right mix of nutrients helps support a sturdy skeleton.
THE DOCTOR IS IN When UTIS Keep Coming Back
Recurrent UTIs hit women more often than men— here’s what does and doesn’t work to prevent them.
Why Did I Feel as if I Had the Flu for Years?
Some days she just couldn’t get out of bed. It took some 10 doctors to figure out why.
Make Your Everyday Life Easier
Light weights are your ticket to a stronger core, which you need to lift, balance, and move with confidence.
WHAT'S YOUR ATTACHMENT STYLE?
LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF TO CONNECT MORE WITH OTHERS.
Stretch Away BACK PAIN
STRETCHING IS A POWERFUL PAINKILLER. All your muscles, bones, and tendons are connected, so pain mama in one body part can affect another. With stretching, you can loosen multiple areas at once. Try these backcentric moves from Prevention’s Stretch Away Pain.
Your Over-the-Counter PAIN DRUG GUIDE
IF NON-PHARMACEUTICAL TREATMENTS like ice and heat aren't helping enough, there are over-the-counter meds that can bring relief, but they're not interchangeable.
"Oh, my ACHING..."
JUST GOING ABOUT OUR LIVES can bring on pain in three areas of the body in particular: the back, the neck, and the knees.
Hope for CHRONIC PAIN sufferers
AN ACHY BACK AFTER A NIGHT ON A SOFA BED is one thing, but some pain persists long after you're technically healed.