Depression

Major depression (also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression) is a “mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest.” It is more than just a couple of bad days, or something that the sufferer can just snap out of. Most importantly, it is NOT a weakness. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms may include:

·         Feelings of sadness, emptiness or unhappiness

·         Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters

·         Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities

·         Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much

·         Tiredness and lack of energy, so that even small tasks take extra effort

·         Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people

·         Anxiety, agitation or restlessness — for example, excessive worrying, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still

·         Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements

·         Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that are not your responsibility

·         Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things

·         Frequent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide

·         Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

Women, as well as those with the following characteristics, are at a higher risk to develop depression:

·         Depression that started when you were a teen or child

·         History of anxiety disorder, borderline personality disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder

·         Abuse of alcohol or illegal drugs

·         Certain personality traits, such as having low self-esteem and being overly dependent, self-critical or pessimistic

·         Serious or chronic illness, such as cancer, diabetes or heart disease

·         Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills (talk to your doctor before stopping any medication)

·         Traumatic or stressful events, such as abuse, the loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship or financial problems

·         Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide

Depression can be treated with medication and psychological counseling. Because each person responds to medication differently, several different ones may need to be tried before one is found that works well. It is important to talk to a doctor before taking any supplements as an alternative means of treatment because they can often interact negatively with other medications and may potentially harm the body. Hospitalization or residential treatment programs may be necessary if depression is severe. While certain adjustments may help to ease depression (such as exercising), depression is serious and it is very important to see a doctor and get the appropriate help needed.

(http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/basics/definition/con-20032977)