Depression

What makes depression different from "the blues?"  Depression is a serious medical condition that involves the body, mood and thoughts.  It affects how you eat and sleep.  It alters your self-perception.  It changes the way you think and feel.  People with a depressive illness can't just "snap out of it" or "pull themselves together" because depression isn't the same as a passing mood.  Left untreated, depression may last for weeks, months, or years at a time.

Depressive illnesses can make routine tasks unbearably difficult.  Pleasures that make life worth living can be drained of joy.  Depression brings pain and disruption not only to the person who has it, but also to his/her family and others who care about them.

If you are experiencing some of the following symptoms, you may have a depressive illness.  Ask yourself if you are feeling sad or "empty;" irritable or angry; guilty or worthless; pessimistic or hopeless; tired or "slowed down;" restless or agitated; like no one cares about you; or like life is not worth living.  You may also sleep more or less than usual; eat more or less than usual; have persistent headaches, stomachaches, or chronic pain; have trouble concentrating, remembering things, or making decisions; lose interest in work or hobbies; or lose interest in sex.

If these symptoms are familiar, it's time to talk with your doctor.  Depression is a real, medical illness that can be successfully treated, most often with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of both.  Support from family and friends plays an important role as well.

Dysthymic Disorder, or Dysthymia, is a chronic, lower-grade depression that must persist for at least 2 years in adults, 1 year in children or adolescents.  Symptoms are typically not as severe as Major Depressive Disorder, and many people do not even realize they are depressed.  Dysthymia, as the rest of the Depressive Disorders, is highly treatable, and responds well to psychotherapy and medication.  Once people feel the difference after treatment, they can then realize how depressed they actually felt. A mental health provider or healthcare provider can  determine whether Dysthymic Disorder or Major Depressive Disorder is the correct diagnosis for your symptoms.

If you think you may have depression, the first priority is to get a proper diagnosis.  A health professional then will be able to tailor an effective treatment program for you.  He or she will consider any biological, psychological and/or social factors causing the depression.  The type and severity of the depression, previous treatment history and your preference also help guide decisions about the treatment plan.

Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options.  Your doctor may recommend one of the following:  antidepressant medication, exercie, psychotherapy or counseling, and physical therapies including bright light therapy or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).   All of these treatments have been shown to successfully treat depression.  A combination of medications and psychotherapy is used to treat many people.

Click on any of the following links for more information:

Depression Quiz

Men and Depression

Childhood Depression

Depression in the Elderly

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depression/DS00175