What Is Depression?
Everyone gets sad sometimes--a brief blue mood, disappointments, grief after loosing a loved one. Depression, though, is different. It is not just a case of the blues. And it is not a weekness or a personality flaw.
Depression is a very real and serious medical illness. It influences people's attitudes toward themselves, others, and life in general. It takes away their feelings of well-being. Depression changes the way a person thinks and behaves.
Depression is a common illness. According to the ational Institute of Mental Health, more then 19 million Americans suffer from clinical depression each year. And anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or socieconomic status, can suffer from depression.
Much like diabetes, asthma, or heart desease, depression is a desease that requires medical attention and treatment. Otherwise, if left untreated, depression can last months or, in some cases, years.
What Are The Signs Of Depression?
There are several signs and symptoms that help a healthcare provider determine if a person has depresion. These include:
- Depressed or irritable mood most of the day--nearly every day.- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities (such as hobbies, work or being with friends) most of the day--nearly every day.- A sudden change in weight or appetite- Inability to sleep or sleeping too much- Agitation or restlessness (observed by others)- Constant fatigue or loss of energy- Frequent feelings of worthlessness or guilt- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions- Frequent thoughts of death or suicideImportant note: If you or somoene you know has thoughts of suicide, seek professional help immediatly through your healthcare provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local suicide hotline.
One doesn't need to have all of these signs and synmptoms to have depression. Symptoms will also vary from person to person. For instance, compared with depressed men, depressed women are more likely to experience guilt, weight gain, anxiety, eating disorders, and increased sleep. Depressed older adults tend to experience persistant sadness or "empty" moods.
What Causes Depression?
Depression can be caused by an imblance of certain chemicals in the brain. Other things that may cause a person to be depressed or to be more likely to become depressed include:
- Life experiences such as divorce, death of a spouse, loss of a job, or serious financial problems- Abuse of alcohol or other drugs- Certain medications and deseases]- In women, hormonal changes after childbirth- A family history of depression- In older adults, illnesses such as cancer, Alzheimer's, or Parkinson's.Although the cause of a persons's depression is not always known, there is tremendous hope for recovery in most cases.
Help Is Available
The good news is that more then 80% of people with depresion improve with proper treatment. There are 2 main treatments for depression--counseling, also called psychotherapy, nd medication. For some, either treatment may be suffcient. For others, the most effective therapy is a combination of the 2 treatments.
Counceling, or psychotherapy, is often called "talk" therapy, and it comes in many forms. Basically, psychotherapy is aimed at helping a person develop new ways to cope with problems, and to identify and understan dmore about depression and how to avoid it in the future. Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions,
and the process itself may take some time before it is effective.
Antidepressent medication works by helpint to correct the imbalance of certain important chemicals in the brain. These medications may take several weeks to be effective, but they work well and are generally safe. There are 3 main groups of antidepressants: selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs are the newest class of antidepressants. They help to
relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing the available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to influence mood.
If Your Healthcare Provider Does Prescribe An Antidepressant For You
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider if you are taking any other medications, including those obtained over the counter. This is especially important for older adults, who often take many different medications. Follow all of yur healthcare provider's instructions about
how and when you should take your antidepressan tmedication.
In addition, if you experience side effects at any point while you are taking a medication prescribed by your healthcare professional, contact him or her as soon as possiable to share this information.
It is important to take your medication as long as your healthcare provider instructs, even if you start feeling better, because otherwise your depression could return or worsen. And remember, studies show most antidepressants are not addictive, particularly the newere classes of antidepressants such as SSRIs.
What Else Can You Do For Your Depression?
Be sure to keep follow-up appointments with your healthcare provider. He or she needs to know how you are doing and may want to change your treatment plan.
Your healthcare provider is your main source of support in depression treatment, but talking with a close friend or family member can sometimes also be very helpful.
In addition, there are other things that you can do on your own that may help you start feeling better, including: excercising, improving your diet, establishing a normal, full-night sleeping schedule, and reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol. To find out which of these or other suggestions might be right for you, talk with yur healthcare provider.
For more information about depression, you may contact the following
organizations:
National Institute of Mental Health
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
1-800-421-4211 or http://www. nimh.nih.gov
National Mental Health Association
2001 North Beauregard Street, Floor 12
Alexandria, VA 22311-1732
1-800-969-NMHA or http://www.nmha.org
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201-3042
1-800-950-NAMI or http://www.nami.org
Organisation Intersex International
Depression
