It is estimated that depression affects 1 in 20 Americans. It is a treatable medical illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters and neuropeptides. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities. Episodes often follow stressful events like marital problems or the death of a loved one.
Depression may also interfere with your work, resulting in loss of time and lower productivity. It can influence relationships and some chronic health conditions. It is important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life and doesn’t necessarily need to be treated as a serious medical condition. However, if symptoms occur frequently for no reason at all, immediately consult your physician.
Depression is not to be confused for the typical mourning process. Grief after loss is normal, and it generally fades over time. Some people experience mild and temporary episodes of sadness, while others experience severe and ongoing depressive episodes.
Individuals who have recurrent episodes of major depression are sometimes said to have “unipolar depression” (“clinical depression”) because they only experience periods of low, or depressed mood (unlike someone with bipolar disorder who goes through periods of both low and high mood).
Symptoms (may include):
- Loss of energy
- Change in sleep pattern
- Feelings of guilt
- Anger or agitation
- Indecisiveness
- Prolonged sadness or crying spells
- Loss of energy
- Change in sleep pattern
- Feelings of guilt
- Anger or agitation
- Indecisiveness
- Prolonged sadness or crying spells
Supporting a person with depression can be difficult considering they may not accept comfort, however, a doctor can help determine if a treatment plan based on the type of depression you, or your loved one have. If left untreated, depression may last for months or years and can worsen over time. Yet, those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.
While depression sometimes runs in families, many people with this particular illness have no family history of depression, and the exact causes of depression still are not clear. What we do know is that both genetics and a stressful environment, or life situation, contribute to its cause.