Depression

What Is Depression?

Depression is caused by a chemical
imbalance in your brain. It is a serious
medical illness. It involves your body,
your mood, and your thoughts. It
affects how you eat, sleep, work, and
live. It affects how you think about
yourself and other things.

There are many reasons a person can become depressed. These include:
Family history
Certain diseases and medicines
Hormone changes
Life events, such as death of a loved one

What Are Symptoms of Depression?

Many people with depression don’t know they have it. So it is important for you
to understand the signs and symptoms. If you have been having these symptoms
nearly every day for at least two weeks, you may have depression:
Feeling sad or “low”
Feeling hopeless
Loss of interest in daily activities, such as hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends
Feeling helpless or worthless. Feeling like you don’t matter
Feeling restless or anxious
Having no energy. Feeling tired all the time
Trouble concentrating. Trouble making decisions
Losing weight without dieting, or gaining weight
Sleeping too much, or having trouble sleeping
Having thoughts of dying or suicide

Depression Can Be Treated

You can’t just “snap out” of depression. You have to get help to treat it.
The first step is to decide to get treatment. See your doctor and talk about
your symptoms.

How Is Depression Treated?

Your doctor will do a complete check-up to rule out other illnesses or causes
for your symptoms. The most common treatments for depression are:

Medicine. Antidepressant drugs are used to treat depression. There are
many kinds of antidepressants.

“Talk” therapy. This may be counseling or a support group.

Antidepressant medicines can help many people with depression. Here are
the important questions to ask:

What is the name of the medicine you are prescribing for me?
When will it start to work? It may take 4 or more weeks for your
antidepressant to work.
How much should I take? When should I take it?
Should I avoid any activities, foods, or drinks while I am taking this medicine?
What side effects might I have and what can I do about them?

“Talk” therapy can also help many people with depression. A psychologist, a
social worker, a counselor, or a minister may offer talk therapy. It may help you:
Learn better ways to cope with your problems
Learn how to think and act in positive ways
Improve personal relationships
Feel more in control of your life

People who are depressed often do best when they take medicine and do
talk therapy.