FEATURES
6A
When depression strikes
Dear Annie: I want people to
know that depression can hap-
pen to someone even if her life
appears wonderful. I know from
experience. A few years ago,
I had just married a wonder-
ful man and moved to a beauti-
ful home in a fun new city. I had
been looking forward to these
changes for months. However,
once we moved, I found myself
deeply sad and irritable.
I remember when our wed-
ding pictures came in the mail
from our photographer. I felt as
if I were looking at a stranger
when I saw myself. The happy
bride in the photos seemed a
million miles away. I wondered
what was wrong with me. How
could I have been so happy just
a few weeks before? I was abso-
lutely positive that I would never
smile again the way I smiled in
those photos. On top of that, I
felt so embarrassed and ashamed
to be so unhappy. After all, a
large group of my friends and
family just celebrated with us,
brought gifts and wished us well.
I forced myself to join a
social group in my new city and
saw my primary care physician
for a referral to a mental health
professional. She diagnosed me
Dear Annie
By
Annie
Lane
Creators
Syndicate
Inc.
with depression and explained
that a major life change can
sometimes contribute to depres-
sion, even if that life change is
something great. I got treatment
and have felt much better. I want
other people to know that they
don’t have to suffer with depres-
sion. There is help available. —
Chris in Massachusetts
Dear Chris: Thanks so much
for coming forward and remind-
ing all of us that depression is
common and treatable. Today,
Oct. 6, is National Depression
Screening Day. About 10 per-
cent of Americans suffer from
depression each year. Symp-
toms to look out for include
feelings of hopelessness and
pessimism, decreased energy,
insomnia or oversleeping, and
signiicant changes in weight.
If you feel you or a loved one
may be depressed, see a licensed
therapist.
Anyone can take a free and
anonymous depression screen-
ing at http://www.HelpYourself-
HelpOthers.org.
Dear Annie: In response to
“Sick and Tired,” the gentleman
who is 5 feet tall and having a
tough time: My husband and his
brother were both short. The dif-
ference in the two was that my
husband carried himself tall
while his brother used his height
to gain pity.
My husband not only han-
dled everyday life well but also
stood up for those who could not
stand up for themselves. Once,
when a gang of teens surrounded
a man in a wheelchair, terroriz-
ing him, my husband, who was
using a cane at the time to get
around, waded into the fray, giv-
ing the man a chance to get into
a nearby store.
The store manager, a woman,
came out to help, while all the
“tall” men hid like children in
safety.
It is not your height that
makes you tall. It’s how you feel
about yourself. — Proud of My
Husband
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016
Tomorrow’s horoscope
By Holiday Mathis, Creators Syndicate Inc.
ARIES (March 21-April 19). Of course it’s
easier if things naturally click together, but
they don’t always, and adjustments must be
made. It’s not like it’s all that hard to file the
edges of that square peg down so it fits the
round hole.
TAURUS (April 20-May 20). It is good to
apply your mind to many of the day’s tasks,
problems and responsibilities — but not all
of them. What happens this afternoon, for
instance, is best approached with an open
heart and ready hands.
GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Abstract think-
ing is highlighted. The concept that could
save the day will be completely out of the
blue, off the wall and seemingly unrelated to
the logical trajectory. There’s no arguing with
what works!
CANCER (June 22-July 22). Don’t worry
too much about the clean break. As it is in
most good stories, the end of the chapter
doesn’t have to wrap things up neatly. More
often than not, it leaves a mess to be solved
further into the book.
LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). This so-called
“coincidence” is no such thing. Rather, take
today’s kismet as an indication to keep fol-
lowing the path you’re on. This will unfold in
a positive way for many.
VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). You can’t al-
ways control what environment you exist in,
but to the degree you can control it, do. Take
charge and put yourself where you’re likely to
feel healthy, interested and engaged.
LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). Cranky people
may be funny for a while, but after contin-
ued exposure, the attitude gets old fast. Get
enough sleep and food so that this is not
you, and help to make comfortable those
FRANK AND ERNEST
BLONDIE
THATABABY
SALLY FORTH
PHOEBE AND HER UNICORN
B.C.
LOLA
DILBERT
SIX CHIX
BIZARRO
MUTTS
NON SEQUITUR
BABY BLUES
WIZARD OF ID
ZITS
ROSE IS ROSE
who are prone to agitation.
SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). Sometimes
you’re the star; sometimes you’re the extra.
Those who can accept that they don’t always
have an active role in the main event will fare
better and have more fun with what’s going
on today.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). You’ve
no problem making a sacrifice. The big chal-
lenge will be in sorting the unhelpful, unnec-
essary sacrifices out from the ones that will
really make a difference. You can help others
by helping yourself.
CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). You’ve al-
ready built a lot of goodwill in the beginning
of a relationship, and you will not have to do
much work later to persuade anyone to help
you you out.
AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). The press-
ing question will have to do with who should
get the credit, how much and why. Even
though this is not a financial matter now,
keep in mind that it could very well develop
into one later.
PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). That feeling
you’re getting is correct: Someone is watch-
ing. Don’t let that worry you, though. The lon-
ger you’re observed, the more obvious it be-
comes to your audience that you’re a winner.
FRIDAY’S BIRTHDAY (Oct. 7). To say that
you desire success would not be incorrect,
just incomplete. What you want more is to
know what is best and to embody it. Those
around you sense your integrity, your indif-
ference to money and your courage. Much of
the next six months will be spent educating
yourself for the important work to be done.
Capricorn and Sagittarius adore you. Your
lucky numbers are: 12, 3, 4, 18 and 6.