Depression is haute couture. Depression is celebrity. Depression is real. Depression is a medical diagnosis. Depression is isolating. Depression is a black hole.
All the media attention has contributed to trivializing a serious and life-threatening disorder.
Depression isn't a character flaw. And most people who are depressed feel very much alone and out of control. In addition, most people who suffer from depression take a circuitous pathway to help. They consider drug therapy the choice of last resort.
Depression affects twice as many women as men regardless of racial and ethnic background or economic status. The same ratio has been reported in eleven other countries all over the world. And if you were born after 1955, you are three times as likely as your grandparents' generation to suffer from depression.
TYPES OF DEPRESSION In the past depression was divided into two types. The first was Situational Depression, caused by an easily identifiable event such as losing your spouse, losing a job or suffering some other major life-changing event. The second is Biological Depression that was thought to be solely genetic. Regardless of the type, sufferers show the same symptoms and respond to the same treatment.
Today most doctors prefer classifying depression based on the number of symptoms present, the degree to which they interfere with the lives of sufferers and the level of overall severity. They now define three primary types of depression.
Mild depression is often self-limiting and may respond to talk therapy and additional support. But even mild depression cannot be dismissed lightly - without treatment it may develop into moderate depression.
Moderate depression presents a wider range of symptoms and difficulty in functioning at home or at work.
Severe depression is a serious illness. It causes extensive and comprehensive distress in all areas of functioning, and is most likely to be associated with suicidal thoughts.
THE SYMPTOMS Most people report profound feelings of sadness, increased irritability and loss of energy. As depression worsens, additional symptoms, such as chronic physical illness, poor concentration, altered appetite and sleep patterns and a functional fogginess are the most common.
As severe depression sets in, sufferers can experience relentless, unshakable feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, guilt and/or anxiety and social withdrawal.
When you see a doctor - and you should see a doctor if you've had three or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks - explain your symptoms in detail. That will help your doctor to prescribe medication appropriate for your particular cluster of symptoms. And if the first antidepressant you try doesn't provide relief, don't quit. Another one will probably work. Many depression sufferers try several different medications before they find the one that works best for them.
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