Depression is not just "feeling blue" or "down in the dumps."
It is more than being sad or feeling grief after a loss.
Depression is a medical disorder that affects your thoughts, feelings, physical health, and
behavior on a daily basis. Individuals suffering from this illness cannot merely "pull
themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks,
months or even years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer
from depression. People with depression may not recognize that they have a treatable
disorder or may be discouraged from seeking or staying on treatment due to feelings of
shame and the associated stigma. Too often, untreated or inadequately treated depression
is associated with
suicide.
There are three main types of depressive disorders:
Major depressive disorder
Dysthymic disorder
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness)
Depressive disorders affect an estimated 9.5% of adult Americans
aged 18 and over in a given year. Nearly twice as many women (12%)
as men (7%) are affected by a depressive disorder each year. Any type
of depression may run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited.
Depression can also occur in people who have no family history of the condition. Additional
factors, such as stresses at home, work, or school, may trigger depression.
Whether inherited or not, depression is often associated with an imbalance in brain
hormones. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is
involved in the onset of a depressive disorder. Depression may also result from having a
chronic physical illness or from certain medications or drugs. In people who have suffered
previous depression, little or no stress may precipitate another episode.
Risk Factors for Depression
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop depression with or without the risk factors listed below. However,
the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing depression. If you
have a number of risk factors, ask your health care provider
what you can do to reduce your risk. Your risk of depression may be related to a combination
of genetic, physical, psychological, and environmental factors.
These include:
Family History of Mental Illness. People with a family history of depressive disorders tend to
be at increased risk of developing depression.
Chronic Physical or Mental Disorders. In recent years, researchers have found that physical
changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes. Medical illnesses such as
stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders can increase the
risk of depression.
Major Life Changes and Stress. A stressful change in life patterns can trigger a depressive
episode. Such stressful events may include a serious loss, a difficult relationship, trauma, or
financial problems.
Little or No Social Support! Having few or no supportive relationships can increase the risk of
depression in both men and women. However, rates of depression have been found to be
higher in women who are at home with young children, and those who describe
themselves as isolated, compared to women who are working or have a supportive social
network. In many cases, restricted social networks have been found to precede the onset of
depression.
Psychological Factors
Certain psychological factors put people at risk for depression. People with low self-esteem,
who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism, or who are readily
overwhelmed by stress, may be prone to depression.
Other psychological factors, such as perfectionism and sensitivity to loss and rejection, may
increase a person’s risk for depression. Depression is also more common in people with
chronic anxiety disorders and borderline and avoidant personality disorders.
Low Socioeconomic Status
Being in a low socioeconomic group is a risk factor for depression. This may be due to
factors such as perceived low social status, cultural factors, social isolation, and greater
daily stress.
Female Gender
Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Hormonal factors may
contribute to the increased rate of depression in women, particularly such factors as
premenstrual changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and
menopause. Many women face additional stresses, such as responsibilities at work and
home, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents.
Medications
Certain medications have been implicated in depression, including: Pain relievers,
Sedatives, Sleeping pills, Cortisone drugs, Seizure drugs. Other medications that may
promote depression include; heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and
asthma,
Symptoms of Depression
Depression can be devastating to family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or
go to school. Symptoms of depression vary a great deal from person to person. Some
people have only a few symptoms, while others have many. Symptoms can change over
time and may include:
Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness feeling guilty, worthless, or
helpless, Loss of interest in hobbies and activities, Loss of interest in sex, feeling tired,
trouble concentrating, remembering, making decisions, trouble sleeping, waking up too
early, or oversleeping, eating more or less than usual, weight gain or weight loss, thoughts
of death or suicide (with or without suicide attempts), restlessness, irritability, or anxiety,
physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical
treatments.
Associated Conditions
Depression often coexists with other medical conditions. The stress of coping with the
disease may cause depression; Or depression may be caused by the disease itself or by
drugs used to treat the disease. Disorders commonly associated with depression include:
Heart disease
Neurological disorders, including:
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Head injury
Obesity
Some forms of cancer, including breast cancer
Diabetes
Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)
Mental decline (in the elderly)
Low tolerance to pain
Mental disorders such as:
Anxiety disorders
Addictions (alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse)
Certain personality disorders (borderline and avoidant personality disorders)
Treatments for Depression
A variety of effective treatments are available to help people with depression. The main
categories are antidepressant medications and psychotherapies (or counseling). Some
forms of depression may be treated with psychotherapy alone. Others require
antidepressant drugs or a combination of drugs and counseling. Medications bring
symptom relief and help correct any underlying deficiency of brain hormones. Counseling
can help you learn more effective ways to deal with depression and the factors that originally
caused or triggered it.
Treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes
Medications
Alternative and complementary therapies
Other treatments - Therapy
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
It is more than being sad or feeling grief after a loss.
Depression is a medical disorder that affects your thoughts, feelings, physical health, and
behavior on a daily basis. Individuals suffering from this illness cannot merely "pull
themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks,
months or even years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer
from depression. People with depression may not recognize that they have a treatable
disorder or may be discouraged from seeking or staying on treatment due to feelings of
shame and the associated stigma. Too often, untreated or inadequately treated depression
is associated with
suicide.
There are three main types of depressive disorders:
Major depressive disorder
Dysthymic disorder
Bipolar disorder (manic-depressive illness)
Depressive disorders affect an estimated 9.5% of adult Americans
aged 18 and over in a given year. Nearly twice as many women (12%)
as men (7%) are affected by a depressive disorder each year. Any type
of depression may run in families, suggesting that a biological vulnerability can be inherited.
Depression can also occur in people who have no family history of the condition. Additional
factors, such as stresses at home, work, or school, may trigger depression.
Whether inherited or not, depression is often associated with an imbalance in brain
hormones. Very often, a combination of genetic, psychological, and environmental factors is
involved in the onset of a depressive disorder. Depression may also result from having a
chronic physical illness or from certain medications or drugs. In people who have suffered
previous depression, little or no stress may precipitate another episode.
Risk Factors for Depression
A risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition.
It is possible to develop depression with or without the risk factors listed below. However,
the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing depression. If you
have a number of risk factors, ask your health care provider
what you can do to reduce your risk. Your risk of depression may be related to a combination
of genetic, physical, psychological, and environmental factors.
These include:
Family History of Mental Illness. People with a family history of depressive disorders tend to
be at increased risk of developing depression.
Chronic Physical or Mental Disorders. In recent years, researchers have found that physical
changes in the body can be accompanied by mental changes. Medical illnesses such as
stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders can increase the
risk of depression.
Major Life Changes and Stress. A stressful change in life patterns can trigger a depressive
episode. Such stressful events may include a serious loss, a difficult relationship, trauma, or
financial problems.
Little or No Social Support! Having few or no supportive relationships can increase the risk of
depression in both men and women. However, rates of depression have been found to be
higher in women who are at home with young children, and those who describe
themselves as isolated, compared to women who are working or have a supportive social
network. In many cases, restricted social networks have been found to precede the onset of
depression.
Psychological Factors
Certain psychological factors put people at risk for depression. People with low self-esteem,
who consistently view themselves and the world with pessimism, or who are readily
overwhelmed by stress, may be prone to depression.
Other psychological factors, such as perfectionism and sensitivity to loss and rejection, may
increase a person’s risk for depression. Depression is also more common in people with
chronic anxiety disorders and borderline and avoidant personality disorders.
Low Socioeconomic Status
Being in a low socioeconomic group is a risk factor for depression. This may be due to
factors such as perceived low social status, cultural factors, social isolation, and greater
daily stress.
Female Gender
Women experience depression about twice as often as men. Hormonal factors may
contribute to the increased rate of depression in women, particularly such factors as
premenstrual changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, pre-menopause, and
menopause. Many women face additional stresses, such as responsibilities at work and
home, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents.
Medications
Certain medications have been implicated in depression, including: Pain relievers,
Sedatives, Sleeping pills, Cortisone drugs, Seizure drugs. Other medications that may
promote depression include; heart problems, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and
asthma,
Symptoms of Depression
Depression can be devastating to family relationships, friendships, and the ability to work or
go to school. Symptoms of depression vary a great deal from person to person. Some
people have only a few symptoms, while others have many. Symptoms can change over
time and may include:
Persistent feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness feeling guilty, worthless, or
helpless, Loss of interest in hobbies and activities, Loss of interest in sex, feeling tired,
trouble concentrating, remembering, making decisions, trouble sleeping, waking up too
early, or oversleeping, eating more or less than usual, weight gain or weight loss, thoughts
of death or suicide (with or without suicide attempts), restlessness, irritability, or anxiety,
physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical
treatments.
Associated Conditions
Depression often coexists with other medical conditions. The stress of coping with the
disease may cause depression; Or depression may be caused by the disease itself or by
drugs used to treat the disease. Disorders commonly associated with depression include:
Heart disease
Neurological disorders, including:
Stroke
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple sclerosis
Head injury
Obesity
Some forms of cancer, including breast cancer
Diabetes
Thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism)
Mental decline (in the elderly)
Low tolerance to pain
Mental disorders such as:
Anxiety disorders
Addictions (alcoholism, smoking, drug abuse)
Certain personality disorders (borderline and avoidant personality disorders)
Treatments for Depression
A variety of effective treatments are available to help people with depression. The main
categories are antidepressant medications and psychotherapies (or counseling). Some
forms of depression may be treated with psychotherapy alone. Others require
antidepressant drugs or a combination of drugs and counseling. Medications bring
symptom relief and help correct any underlying deficiency of brain hormones. Counseling
can help you learn more effective ways to deal with depression and the factors that originally
caused or triggered it.
Treatment involves the following:
Lifestyle changes
Medications
Alternative and complementary therapies
Other treatments - Therapy
Source: National Institute of Mental Health
DEPRESSION...
Affecting your thoughts, feelings, physical
health and behavior on a daily basis
Affecting your thoughts, feelings, physical
health and behavior on a daily basis
Depression In Children And The Treatment Options "CLICK HERE" |
| The information provided on these pages are intended as a educational public service. New studies often change our understanding of how to diagnose and treat these illnesses and direct contact with the appropriate, licensed mental health professional prior to treatment is always recommended. |
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