You're likely depressed

You've been going through a lot lately, whether you realize it or not, the stress seems to be taking its toll on your mental and physical wellbeing. As if feeling low wasn't bad enough, depression could even affect your skin.

"Skin appearance usually declines with increased mental and physical illness because the skin is the overall window to your health," says dermatologist Dr. Wendy E. Roberts of Rancho Mirage, Calif. This includes scaly, scratched or picked skin, excessive rubbing and skin disorders caused by diet irregularities, as well as an overall impression that you just haven't been taking care of yourself.

If you've been feeling sad, suicidal, or like you just don't care about anything or anyone -- especially if it's gone on for more than two weeks -- see a clinical therapist, counselor or psychologist right away. Keep in mind, doing so doesn't mean you're "crazy." It just means you could use an objective (and figurative) shoulder to cry on -- and you deserve someone who's not going to hold it against you later.

Find a licensed mental health services specialist in your area.



Sources: http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/11/29/acne.depression/index.html

http://www.psych.org/mainmenu/research/dsmiv.aspx

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/getting-help-locate-services/index.shtml



Emails: Dr. Bruce Spring, Los Angeles psychiatrist

Dr. Karin Sponholz, USC

Call to clinical therapist office/hotline at USC (for background info)

Dr. Elizabeth Reyes, USC

Amanda Newaira, counselor (for background info)