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Depression is a disease that is a lot like the wind. It’s out there, but people can’t see it, they can only feel it. This is why many people don’t have that much information about depression. Not everyone encounters it on a day to day basis, so this is another reason that people don’t think about it a lot. Most people don’t even know what the symptoms of depression are. Here is some information for you to use in your life and to help others that may not know about depression.
Many more people are depressed than you may realize. In fact, in the United States alone, five percent of all Americans may suffer from depression at any given time. And twenty-five percent of Americans will have a major depressive episode once in their life.
Depression can happen to anyone. There is no one type of person that will suffer. Although, depression is likely to be inherited, so if someone in your family suffered from depression, then you have a higher risk of suffering as well. Also, women seem to suffer from depression slightly more than men do. Sometimes a major life changing event, such as a death in the family, divorce, moving, changing or losing a job, can bring on a depression, but a lot of the time depression will hit when all is going well. When this happens, it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.
There are many symptoms of depression. Some people will suffer from many of the symptoms, while others will show only a few. Here are the symptoms: feeling sad, changes in sleeping patterns, change of appetite, chronic aches and pains, fatigue, lack of energy, loss of interest in formerly pleasurable activities, increased irritability, lack of concentration, trouble remembering things, and feeling anxious. The changes in appetite and sleep can vary from eating or sleeping too much, to not eating or sleeping enough. If you experience some of these symptoms, it is important to discuss them with your doctor. You may or may not be suffering from depression, but only a doctor can diagnose you.
Treatment options for depression are counseling, medication, and/or a combination of both. Some people respond well to counseling alone, while others will need medication to help them through the depression. There are many different anti-depressants out there today, with fewer and fewer side effects. Not everyone will respond to the same medication, so you may have to try a few until you and your doctor find one that works for you. Most people will not have to take an anti depressant for a long period of time. Usually the medication is simply used to get you over a bad spot. However, there are a few cases where an anti depressant will be used in a long-term period.
Depression is a disease that responds very well to treatment. Once you are diagnosed and begin treatment, it will not be long before you start to feel better. If you think you might be depressed, talk to your doctor today.
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