Depression

If you feel you are suffering from depression, it is important to seek medical attention in order to identify the causes and determine proper treatment options.  Treatment may include physiological evaluation and/or therapy and/or medications.  A proper evaluation at a doctor clinic about your condition will begin the process of managing your feelings of despair, hopelessness, or isolation and put you on the road to recovery. 

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) defines depression as a serious medical illness not something that you have made up in your head.  It is more than just feeling down in the dumps or blue for a few days.  It is feeling down and low, and hopeless for weeks at a time. 

According to the NIMH, the most common types of depressive disorder include major depressive disorder, which is exhibited by a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.  Dysthymia, a less severe type of depressive disorder and involves long-term, chronic symptoms that do not completely disable, but keep one from functioning well or from feeling good.  Bipolar disorder (manic-depression) is characterized by cycling mood changes: sever highs (mania) and lows (depression).  Sometimes the mood switches are dramatic and rapid, but most often they are gradual.  Psychotic depression is a severe depressive disorder that afflicts victims along with some form of psychosis.  Symptoms of the condition include the victim’s inability to separate fact from fiction and may include hallucinations and delusions.  Another common affliction is postpartum depression.  This depressive disorder strikes ten to fifteen percent of new mothers usually within one month of childbirth.

• Continual sad, anxious, or empty mood
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed
• Decreased energy, fatigue, being slowed down
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
• Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
• Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
• Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment
• Mania (severe highs – abnormal or excessive excitement)
• Mania including unusual irritability, grandiose notions, racing thoughts, etc.

The above information is not intended to be exhaustive or complete, however if you feel you are suffering with depressed feelings, it is crucially important to seek help from a professional who can help you in determining what it is you are feeling and experiencing, so that you can get the help and assistance needed.

Read about other medical concerns such as: Alcohol Addiction, Neurology, or Pregnancy