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Depression
What is depression?
Everyone gets the blues or has low times, but those with depression have
a difficult time getting out of that low period. Depression is a mood disorder
that includes symptoms like lack of energy, long lasting sadness or irritability
(lasting more than two weeks), and general lack of interest in life’s
daily activities.
It is important to remember that it is a medical condition, and not a character
flaw, a poor attitude, or a sign of personal weakness. In fact, there is
absolute scientific proof that people who have depression have changes
in their brains compared to people who do not have depression. There are
a variety of very successful treatments for depression. People do not have
to ‘learn to live with’ depression.
There are a few varieties of depression. Dysthemia, or chronic depression,
happens over a period of at least two years (adults, or one year in children).
The symptoms may be less severe than major depression, but they can last
for years. Postpartum depression is a serious condition affecting as much
as 10% of new mothers. It includes the same list of symptoms as depression,
and can happen within a few days of having a baby or up to a year later.
What are the symptoms?
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- Sadness (usually lasting more than two weeks)
- Loss of enjoyment from things that were once pleasurable
- Loss of energy
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Difficulty making decisions
- Insomnia or excessive sleep
- Unexplained aches and pains
- Stomachache and digestive problems
- Sexual problems (for example, decreased sex
drive)
- Aches and Pains (such as recurrent headaches)
- A change in appetite causing weight loss or gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide
- Attempting suicide
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What causes depression?
There are many factors that cause depression. The combination of
factors differs from person to person and can include: |
- A history of depression in
the family: Experts agree that depression is passed genetically
from generation to generation, although the exact way this occurs
is not known.
- Grief from the death or loss of a loved one.
- Personal disputes, like conflict with a family member.
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.
- Major events that occur in everyone's lives, such as moving,
graduating, changing jobs, getting married or divorced,
retiring, etc.
- Serious illness: depressed feelings are a common reaction
to many medical illnesses.
- Certain medications.
- Substance abuse: close to 30% of people with substance
abuse problems also have major depression.
- Other personal problems such as loneliness or social
isolation.
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Other Sources of Information
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Overview
of Depression
WebMD
and The Cleveland Clinic |
Depression in Children
and Adolescents
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
Understanding and Treating
Depression
Depression.com |
Depression in Older Persons
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
Depression Fact Sheets
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
Real Men, Real Depression
National
Institute of Mental Health |
Seasonal Affective Disorder
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
Publications on Depression
National
Institute of Mental Health |
Depression in Women
National
Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
Women and Depression
The
Mayo Clinic |
Facts on Depressive Disorders
Depression
and Related Affective Disorders Association |
A Family Guide to Keeping Youth Mentally Healthy and Drug Free
-- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
(SAMHSA)
www.family.samhsa.gov/
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Grief and Depression
Grief and Depression
The
Mayo Clinic
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Post Partum Depression
Post Partum Depression
The
Mayo Clinic
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