Durham mother battles depression, finds relief
DURHAM (WTVD) -- Upon first meeting Kim Jackson, she appears reserved and soft-spoken. But when talking to the Durham mother of 5, it becomes apparent that there is a keen intelligence behind her warm, brown eyes, and a desire to help others.
She says it was that desire that first led her into the field of pharmaceutical chemistry, and it's that same driving force that compelled her to do a sit-down interview with us.
Jackson is currently undergoing treatment for depression and despite the stigma surrounding the topic, she agreed to share her story in the hopes of encouraging others to get help.
Jackson says she was first diagnosed with an eating disorder when she was in middle school. For years, she masked that and the accompanying depression by keeping busy with school, then work, then raising a family.
But finally, the facade came crashing down.
"Recently, after I had my set of twins, my last two kids, things started to get worse," she shared. "I got to the point where I was doing nothing for my family, work was suffering, and my husband noticed it. He was like, 'You have to do something; we have to do something.'"
So Jackson and her husband sought out treatment that ultimately led to her being hospitalized for a short period of time. Since then, she's relied on medication and continued therapy to treat her medical condition.
"I'm on meds and it's OK," she said. "I take my meds, it's something I have to do. I keep my therapy appointments. My husband and I both go to them... and some family therapy groups with my kids."
And because she has the support of her family as she follows her doctor and counselor's suggestions for a treatment plan, now life looks good for her most days.
"It is like night and day. Back then I would choose being alone in my room or going out running by myself over being with my family," she exclaimed "And now I'm with my family, I want to be with my family, I want to do things with my family."
TAKING A CLOSER LOOK AT DEPRESSION
Her counselor, Cindy Jones with Duke Medicine, stressed that is one of the positive things about depression: It can be treated and managed to the point where those suffering can lead normal, happy, and healthy lives.
But ignoring the symptoms and side effects can prove to have fatal consequences.
"You could die," Jones said matter-of-factly. "You know, depression is one of the leading reasons for suicide. It's your nervous system shutting down, you're not able to think through problem-solving. It's deadly."
Sitting with Jones in her Durham office, she apologized for making what might at first seem like a melodramatic statement.
She went on to explain that it's true and it's something health professionals see far too often.
"We see depression as a disease process and signs in the nervous system that something is wrong. It is not a personality issue, it is not a matter of willfulness or laziness. It is the nervous system trying to flag that there is something wrong," she pointed out.
FREE SCREENINGS ON THURSDAY
Because she and other health professionals are passionate about getting people to accept mental illnesses, including depression, as a medical condition, they are hosting screenings similar to those held for diabetes or high blood pressure.
These free screening events are happening across the country on Thursday, October 8th, as part of National Depression Screening Day.
Locally you can check out Duke Medicine's 2 free events. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. members of the public are invited to the Atrium Cafe located on the first floor of Duke University Hospital at 2301 Erwin Road, Durham.
Students can visit the Bryan Center at 125 Science Drive, Durham. For those who can't make those free events, there is also an anonymous screening online at http://screening.mentalhealthscreening.org/hyho.
The screenings provide a comfortable and private way for individuals to assess their mental health. While the screening is not diagnostic, it will indicate existing symptoms and if further assessment by a clinician is advisable.
Symptoms of depression can include:
For more information on the free screenings at Duke, call Cynthia Jones at Duke Medicine (919) 286-5261 or email jones106@mc.duke.edu.
