What Is Depression?
- Depression is more than just a sad feeling
- Depression brings intense feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness, where you cannot perform normal day to day activities
- These feelings, can last for months to years
- 10-20% of young people suffer from depression
- Approx. 1 in 5 adults in the US suffer from depression one time in their lives
Facts about Depression
- One of the most common psychiatric illness
- Cases can b serious and sometimes can be chronic
- Women are 2-3 times more likely to be affected than men,
- It tends to run in families
- Affects more than 17 million families each year
- Frequently genetic, psychological and environmental factors contribute to the onset of depression
Diagnostic Features of Depression
If you have five or more of the symptoms listed below within a two week period you might be suffering from depression.
- Depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure
- Weight loss or gain
- Poor sleep or increased sleep
- Fatigue, decreased concentration
- Feeling hopeless, helpless, worthless
- Thoughts of death/suicide
Treatment of Depression
- Talk therapy or psychotherapy-Talk about your condition and related issues to your mental health professional.
- Talk therapy(cognitive-behavioral therapy) helps to develop positive interactions with others and replace negative feelings with healthy/positive ones.
- Medications like Prozac, Zoloft, Effexor, etc are very effective in treating depression in combination with talk therapy.
The Warning Signs of Depression
- If you experience suicidal and or homicidal thoughts please call 911 or report to the nearest emergency room
- Adhere to the treatment plan
- Avoid taking alcohol, illicit and or recreational drugs
Summary