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Depression
"When you know more about what's wrong,
you can help to make it right"
Depression is
a very real and serious medical illness.
Depression influences your attitude towards
yourself, others, and life in general.
Depression changes the way you think and the way
you behave. Depression is
not a sign of weakness or a character
flaw. It is a
very common medical condition with very specific
symptoms. The symptoms of depression, as with
any other illness, may differ from person to
person. Not everyone will have all the same
symptoms.
Signs and
Symptoms of Depression
The term
depression refers to:
A persistent
sad mood and/or irritable
mood
Loss of
interest or pleasure in activities (such as
hobbies, work, or being with
friends)
Sudden change
in appetite or weight
Sleep pattern
change - inability to sleep or sleeping too
much
Restlessness
or decreased activity that is noticeable to
others
Loss of energy
(feeling tired all the time)
Difficulty in
concentrating or making
decisions
Feelings of
worthlessness or inappropriate
guilt
Frequent
thoughts of death or suicide
More people suffer from depression than
you might think. Depression strikes people of
all ages, backgrounds, and ethnic groups. It is
estimated that about 20 million adults in the
U.S. suffer from depression each year, and that
up to 25% of all women and up to 12% of all men
in the U.S. will experience an episode of major
depression some time in their lives. About 1 out
of 6 American adults have depression during
their lifetimes.
Sometimes, in
addition to the symptoms of depression, many
depressed people may also complain of physical
problems. For example, someone might have
chronic aches and pains that just can't be
explained, such as persistent headaches,
backaches, or stomachaches. Depressed people may
also experience digestive problems such as dry
mouth, nausea, constipation, and, less commonly,
diarrhea. Being constantly worried, anxious, or
irritable are also possible hidden signs of
depression.
You don't need all
these signs and symptoms to have
depression. The symptoms vary from person
to person. For example, woman are more
likely to experience guilt, weight gain,
anxiety, eating disorders, and increased sleep
unlike men.
What causes
depression?
Some of our life
experiences are the cause for depression.
For example: death in the family, divorce, loss
of a job, stress at work, financial problems and
many more.
How depression is
treated
Depression involves
both biological and emotional factors.
Doctors combine medication and therapy.
Medication works by helping to improve the way
certain important chemicals in the brain work.
These medications take several weeks to be
effective. Talk therapy basically helps
the person develop new ways to cope with the
problems. It helps you understand more and
how to deal with it in the
future.
If you doctor
prescribes
antidepressants
Make sure you tell
your doctor if you are taking any other
medication even over the counter
stuff. Contact doctor
immediately is your experience any side effects.
Your doctor is relying on you to communicate
anything that you may be
experiencing. Follow through with
your treatment. Don't get discouraged if your
symptoms don't improve right away,
medication takes some time to be effective
. Also don't stop taking the medication
because you are feeling better. There are
(3) stages for the medication and therapy to
work.
1) Acute Phase (6-8
weeks) - designed to decrease the immediate
symptoms of depression
2) Continuation
Phase (16-20 weeks) - designed to help achieve
full relief and prevent a
relapse
3) Maintenance Phase
(Length Varies) - designed to reduce the risk of
another episode of depression
Patients who have
had previous episodes of depression will
probably require long-term
therapy.
***,
I am not a doctor and I am not
telling you what to do or not do. Since I've
been through this and would like to help others
understand I wrote some of the facts that I've
come accross in searching information for myself
about depression.
Consult your
doctor, please. | 
