Depression.

If you think you have depression, look for help. Don't let it be too late. Trust me, talking about it helps, it has help me, I am slowly growing out of it.

Depression is a serious biologic disease that affects millions of people each year. The encouraging news is that it may be successfully treated. Learn how you can manage your depression by reaching out to others such as a health care professional or family and friends.

What causes depression?

Although no single cause of depression has been identified, it appears that interaction among genetic, biochemical, environmental, and psychosocial factors may play a role. The fact is, depression is not a personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away, but it can be successfully treated.

Who gets depression?

An estimated 33 to 35 million U.S. adults are likely to experience depression at some point during their lifetime. The disease affects men and women of all ages, races, and economic levels. However, women are at a significantly greater risk than men to develop major depression. Studies show that episodes of depression occur twice as frequently in women as in men.
Although anyone can develop depression, some types of depression, including major depression, seem to run in families. Whether or not depression is genetic, the disorder is believed to be associated with changes to levels of chemicals in the brain such as serotonin and norepinephrine.

Symptoms of Depression

Although there is no blood test to diagnose depression, there are well-developed guidelines used by health care professionals to diagnose major depressive disorder. One of these guidelines, developed by the American Psychiatric Association, is called the DSM-IV^®. Your health care professional may ask you questions based on this established diagnostic tool.
According to the DSM-IV, major depressive disorder (or "depression") is diagnosed when five or more of the following symptoms of depression are present for most of the day, nearly every day for at least 2 weeks. At least one of the symptoms must be either persistent sad or "empty" feelings or loss of interest in activities.

• Constant sadness
• Irritability
• Hopelessness
• Trouble sleeping
• Low energy or fatigue
• Feeling worthless or guilty for no reason
• Significant weight change
• Difficulty concentrating
• Loss of interest in favorite activities

Be sure to tell your health care professional if you're experiencing any of these symptoms as described by the DSM-IV. Also, tell your health care professional if your symptoms are affecting your ability to function at home, at work, or with family, friends, or colleagues.

Treatments for Depression

Depression is a disease that can be successfully treated. There are a variety of ways to treat depression, including prescription medication and psychotherapy. Some people may use natural remedies such as herbal therapy. Only a health care professional can determine the appropriate option to treat your depression.

Prescription medications

There are several types of prescription antidepressant medications that are divided into different classes. Each antidepressant class affects the levels of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, which are thought to be involved in regulating mood.
The most commonly prescribed prescription antidepressant classes are SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) and SNRIs (serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors). SSRIs are believed to treat depression by affecting the levels of a neurotransmitter called serotonin. SNRIs are believed to treat depression by affecting the levels of two neurotransmitters called serotonin and norepinephrine.
It's important to know that it could take as many as 6 to 8 weeks for the full therapeutic effect to occur. It is important to give the medication a chance to work and to take it exactly as directed by your health care professional.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is known as "talk therapy," which research has shown can be very helpful for people with some forms of depression. Like all treatment options, psychotherapy can be used alone or in combination with medication or other treatments.
The two main types of psychotherapy that are typically used to treat depression are:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) - helps to reduce depression symptoms by challenging and reversing negative beliefs and attitudes.
• Interpersonal therapy (IPT) - helps facilitate the resolution of role disputes and helps to overcome problems with social skills and other interpersonal factors that may impact the development of depression.

Healthy living

The following are some suggestions for a natural approach to a healthy lifestyle, which may help provide some relief of depression symptoms:

• Maintain proper sleep hygiene as advised by your health care professional.
• Eat a well-balanced diet
• Manage anxiety as advised by your health care professional
• Participate in a structured and supervised exercise program as advised by your health care professional
• Set realistic goals for yourself
• Create small and manageable tasks
• Let others you can trust such as family and friends help you