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2B – Daily News – Saturday, April 3, 2010 FEATURES Is there a test for depression? Girl and boy too shy to date DEAR DR. GOTT: I am won- dering if there is a test for depres- sion. I’m always lethargic and drained, even though I get regular sleep and eat well. I was told by someone that there are two rea- sons for being tired — too little rest and depression. I get enough sleep but have been incredibly sad for years. DEAR READER: Your brief inquiry could require far-reaching answers, since there is no single known cause for depression, which can be mild or so severe it heavily affects a per- son’s ability to function from one day to the next. It is my guess that you have never spo- ken with a physician about your concerns. If this is the case, you join the vast majori- ty of people who never seek medical treat- ment. There are a number of types of depres- sion, including a psychotic form that accompanies delusions, hallucinations or some other form of psychosis. Postpartum depression affects women within a month following delivery. While quite common, it presents for a relatively brief period. Sea- sonal affective disorder (SAD) presents in the winter, when there is less natural sun- light. As you might have guessed, SAD remains under control during the balance of the year and can be treated with light thera- py. Milder forms of depression aren’t as severe in intensity, and people may not be as disabled as with other types, but they will have an ongoing complaint of not feeling up to par, and they fail to function normal- ly. The severity, duration and frequency of symptoms will vary. Some people may experience a loss of appetite, a loss of inter- est in things once pleasurable, become irri- table, have insomnia, aches, pains, headache, a feeling of hopelessness and a great deal more. As can be expected, depression may co- Welcomes Photographer & Western Artist Linda Rosser 40 years of “Red Bluff Round Up” Photos Plus 34 frames of Lane Frost on Red Rock Friday April • 2nd 5-7 April 10th • 10-4 April 17th • 12-3 623 Main St. 527-5180 2 Dr. Peter Gott exist with other medical condi- tions, such as Parkinson’s disease, cancer, diabetes, post-traumatic stress disorder, alcohol or drug abuse, and a family history of depression. Fatigue can also stem from a number of causes. The first one that comes to mind is iron-defi- ciency anemia. Then there’s hypo- glycemia (low blood sugar), a viral infection, hypotension (low blood pressure), abnormal thyroid function and an immune-system deficiency. You might experience muscle pain, occa- sional irregular heartbeat, headache, an inability to concentrate, morning stiffness and shortness of breath. If other causes can- not be found, perhaps you are suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. The key to diagnosing chronic long- standing fatigue is that the symptoms remain, despite adequate sleep. If we cou- ple this with the mild form of depression I mentioned above, these symptoms out- wardly fit your profile to a T. Having said this, I must strongly recom- mend that you make an appointment with your physician for a complete examination to include blood work, EKG, chest X-ray and anything else he or she recommends. If no abnormalities exist, and perhaps even if they do, request a referral to a therapist or psychiatrist to determine whether the cause is depression. I know it’s easy for me to say you should undergo an expensive exam and follow-up testing. Money is always an issue, and the expense is a concern. However, living a life of fatigue and depression carries a gigantic price tag that you need to get out from under. Mild blood abnormalities might be eradicated with prescription medication. Depression, from mild to severe forms, can improve with treatment. I hope you weigh the odds and follow through. You owe it to yourself and to those you love. Bartlett & Spence Best BBQ Around Cooked Fresh Daily B.B.Q. and • Payroll FAST FRIENDLY SERVICE Weekdays ‘till 6pm Saturday ‘till 3pm 22825 Antelope Blvd. 528-0799 Open year around 1395 Montgomery Rd. • Bookkeeping Red Bluff, Ca • 527-2276 Marie Bartlett & Shirley Spence Corning Calif. Largest Selection In Tri-County • Herbal Medicines • Edibles (Foods) • Clones 1317 Solano St. (530) 824-4811 www.tehamaherbalcollective.vpweb.com Dear Annie: I am a 7th-grade girl. There’s this guy I like — and I know he likes me, too. The problem is, we’re both too shy to ask the other out. But I’m scared that if I don’t do anything, nothing will ever happen. If I ask him out, will I sound desperate? — Just Wondering Dear Just Wonder- Annie’s Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar ing: No, but you might want to hedge your bets. You don’t need to be dat- ing exclusively in 7th grade. Instead of asking him out, perhaps you and some friends could orga- nize a group outing and you could invite him to join you. That will take the pressure off. Dear Annie: I’d like to respond to ‘‘Confused in Phoenix,’’ who asked what to call the past decade. In Hawaiian, the word ‘‘puka’’ means a small hole or void. During WWII, Gen. Mark Clark led the men of the 100th Army Battalion, made up mostly of Pacific natives, including Sen. Daniel Inouye, a member of the ‘‘Go for Broke’’ 442nd company. The 100th Bat- talion soon became known as the ‘‘One Puka Puka’’ Battalion. Today, we have puka shell necklaces and puka dogs, so it seems only nat- ural for us to have the puka decade, puka kids and the puka generation. It may be region- al, but it does warm the heart, and I would rather call my grandkids little puka kids than zeroes, augh- ties or Oh’s. — Puka Grandparent Dear Grandparent: Very cute — as long as they pronounce it right (or maybe not). Our readers seemed to enjoy weighing in on this topic. Read on for more: From Tallahassee: It is obvious to many in the U.S. that the truest name for the past decade is ‘‘The Oughts,’’ for we didn’t do the things we ought to have done and did plenty of things we ought not to have done. Northern Calif.: I’ve heard people call the years since 2000 ‘‘the early 2000s.’’ However, considering that this decade has given us the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, outbreaks of swine and avian flu, Hur- ricane Katrina, the Great Recession, sexting, and a gaggle of ridiculous short- hand and combo words (BFF, LOL, frenemy, ginormous), a more accu- rate name would be ‘‘The Oh No’s.’’ In addition, it will solve the problem of naming the next decade by giving us ‘‘The Oh No Not Agains.’’ Oxnard, Calif.:Why do people insist that the decade has ended? It will end in December 2010. Can’t peo- ple do the math? There is no year zero. Our calendar starts on year one. The new millennium started Jan. 1, 2001, not 2000. The decade will end on Dec. 31, 2010. Don’t rush it. Chicago: For years, I’ve tried to get people to call the decade the ‘‘Dou- ble Oh’s.’’ It only happens once in a thousand years. But when I think back on how bad it got in Double- Oh Eight, I wonder whether ‘‘Zilches’’ might be better. Grand Island, Neb.: For the previous century, we used ‘‘Nineteen hun- dred’’ whatever. The most logical way now would be to say ‘‘Twenty whatev- er.’’ So this year would be ‘‘Twenty Ten,’’ next year would be ‘‘Twenty Eleven’’ and so forth. Since for the first 10 years people should have been saying ‘‘Twenty Oh One,’’ ‘‘Twenty Oh Two,’’ etc., I think the past decade should be called ‘‘The Twenty-Oh’s.’’ Boston: The 1970s were named the ‘‘Me’’ decade. The 2000s could be the ‘‘My’’ decade, since it brought the launch of social networking sites like MySpace. An alterna- tive name could be the ‘‘I’’ decade, because the iPod, the iPad, the iPhone and iTunes all emerged. Florida: I think the per- fect name should be the ‘‘Uh-oh’s’’ because of all the messes that began in this decade. Annie’s Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please e-mail your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.n et, or write to: Annie’s Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 5777 W. Century Blvd., Ste. 700, Los Angeles, CA 90045. The Voice of Tehama County Since 1885 Join the conversation.... www.redbluffdailynews.com ROUND-UP Red Bluff Weekend - Events Itinerary and Guide - 7,000 copies Published as an insert to The Daily News Wednesday, April 14 2,000 additional local distribution through Sunday April 18: Restaurants ★ Hotels ★ Weekend Event Sites Participating Local Businesses ★ Fairgrounds This magazine-size special section will reach and excite those folks already planning to attend Red Bluff’s “crown jewel” event – and the final Community events leading up to it; the mixer, the parade and more. Distribution will be through the Daily News, with additional freestanding distribution to reach non-subscribers and visitors. Here’s a low-cost, last minute option to “brand” your business with the Round-Up, and let folks from out of town know that you’re here – particularly valuable for restaurants, hotels and western-oriented retail businesses. Deadline for Space Reservations: Monday, April 5 at 5 PM ! 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