What is Depression?

At some point in our lives everyone does feel depressed, sad or blue. According to the National Institutes of Mental Health, nearly 18.8 million Americans over the age of 18 suffer from major depression. Unfortunately, most people never seek treatment. Feeling depressed is a normal reaction to the many losses and stresses we encounter throughout life. When these feelings are overwhelming, lasting for long periods of time and prevent someone from living a normal life, it is important to examine a treatment method to help overcome this treatable medical condition.

Types of Depression include:

· Major Depression
· Chronic Depression (dysthymia)
· Bipolar Depression
· Seasonal Depression (Seasonal Affective Disorder, SAD)
· Psychotic Depression
· Postpartum Depression

What are the symptoms of Depression?

· Sadness
· Loss of energy
· Feelings of hopelessness and worthlessness
· Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
· Difficulty concentrating
· Difficulty making decisions
· Increased need for sleep
· Insomnia or excessive sleep
· Unexplained aches or pains
· Stomachache and digestive problems
· Decreased sex drive or sexual problems
· Headache
· A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
· Thoughts of death or suicide

Who experiences Depression?

In the U.S., approximately 10% of people suffer from major depression at any one time, and 20-25% suffer a depressive episode at some time in their lives. Depression occurs in adults, children and the elderly-two populations in which it often foes undiagnosed and untreated.

Approximately twice as many women suffer from depression as men. This is partially due to hormonal changes women experience throughout life: menstruation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and menopause. Other contributing factors include balancing work and family, caregiving and single parenting.

Men who suffer from depression are less likely to seek help; therefore, depression in men may be underreported. Repressing feelings can result in violent directed both inwardly and outwardly that can manifest in the form of anger or drug and alcohol abuse.

What triggers depression?

Not everyone has a trigger for a depressive episode, but the following are some of the most common events that lead to depression:

· Grief, the loss of a loved one through death, divorce, separation, abandonment
· Pre-genetic disposition, depression can be a bio chemical illness that occurs more commonly within families
· Interpersonal issues and conflicts
· Role transitions, that include a move, job change, or major life event

How is Depression diagnosed?

If you are depressed and have had two or more of the previously mentioned symptoms for longer than two weeks, it is recommended that you see your physician and a mental health care professional. Your doctor will perform a medical evaluation and gather a family history. You may be asked to complete a depression screening test.

There is no laboratory test that will diagnose depression; however, your doctor may run some blood tests to determine any other significant issues that could have symptoms similar to those of depression or might be contributing to your depression.

How do I get help for Depression?

If you or someone you know is demonstrating any of the following warning signs, seek your health care provider's advice for treatment or referral to a mental health professional. The best way to prevent depression from recurring is to be aware of depression symptoms and triggers. Talk to your doctor or health care professional about the treatments available. You may need a prescription for antidepressant medication along with talking to a mental health professional who can spend quality time with you and offer a variety of therapeutic modalities to assist in overcoming depression. It is important to find the treatment that fits best into your lifestyle.