Depression

  Depression

 WHAT IS DEPRESSION?  Millions of people are affected with depression each year. Depression is a serious mental health disorder that can affect the way you eat or sleep, and the way you think about things. A depressive disorder is more then a passing mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness and it can not be wished away. People with depression should seek appropriate attention and treatment. Without treatment symptoms of depression may last until otherwise.

 TYPES OF DEPRESSION  Depression comes in different forms. There are three different major types of depression, Major Depression, Dysthymia, and Unspecified Depression.
 * Major Depression is the most serious type of depression. It has a combination of symptoms that interfere with the ability to work, study, sleep, eat, and enjoy once enjoyed activities. You do not need to feel suicidal to have Major Depression and you do not need to have ahistory of hospitalizations either, although both are usually factors in some people with Major Depression.
 * Dysthymia is a less severe type of depression that lasts about two years and often longer but involves less severe symptoms that are more enduring and resistant to treatment. Most people that suffer from Dysthymia lead a normal life but may not function right for feel good. They may also experience Major Depression some time in their lives.
 * Unspecified Depression includes people with serious depression but not quite severe enough to have a diagnosis of major depression. It also includes people with chronic, moderate depression, which has not been present long enough for diagnosis of a Dysthymic disorder.

 SYMPTOMS  Depression symptoms vary depending on the person and the type of depressive disorder that they have. Some symptoms include,
 * loss of interest in normal daily activities
 * feeling sad or down
 * feeling hopeless
 * crying spells for no apparent reason
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">problems sleeping
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">problems concentrating or focusing
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">difficulty making decisions
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">irritability
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">restlessness
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">being easily annoyed
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">feeling weak
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">feeling worthless
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">loss of interest in sex
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">thoughts of suicide or suicidal behavior
 * <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;">unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches.

[|Are you depressed? Take the test to find out!]

<span style="color: #ff00ff; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;"> DIAGNOSIS <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> The most important thing a doctor can do when diagnosing a person with depression is talking and listening to the. Usually we rely on tests and blood work to diagnose people with disorders but thats not the situation in this case. A doctor must sit their patient down and listen to what they have to say, ask them questions and evaluate their symptoms to see if there are any signs of depression. A doctor will give their patient a physical examination, personal interview and even lab tests if necessary. The doctor will also take into consideration any family history of depression. Your doctor will ask you if you have any symptoms and evaluate them and talk to you about how long you have had them and have you explain them.

<span style="color: #008080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;"> TREATMENT <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> There are different ways to take on your depression. You should go seek Psychotherapy, prescription medication, and live a healthy life style. Only a professional can determine the right way to treat and cure your depression. There are many different types of prescription antidepressant medications that are divided into different classes. Each antidepressant class affects the levels of chemicals in the brain call neurotransmitters, which are thought to be involved in regulating mood. It may take many different try's to get the right medication to fix your problem. It can also take up to six to eight weeks to get the full effect of the medicine. Psychotherapy is known as "talk therapy" which is shown to be very helpful to some people with different forms of depression. Psychotherapy can be used alone or it could also be used combined with an antidepressant. The two major types of psychotherapy are Behavioral therapy which helps reduce depression symptoms by challenging and reversing negative beliefs and attitudes. Another type of Psychotherapy is interpersonal therapy. It helps facilitate the resolution of role disputes and helps to overcome problems with social skills and other interpersonal factors that may impact that development of depression.

<span style="color: #000080; display: block; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 140%; text-align: center;"> EFFECT OF DAILY LIFE <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 110%;"> Depression effects your daily life in many different ways. You are not the same person that you used to be and you do not have the same interest or enjoy the same things. [|Effects depression has on your daily life] media type="custom" key="5111079"