All About: Major Depression

All About:Major Depression

DEFINITION
Depression is a medical illness that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression can cause physical symptoms, too. Also called major depression, major depressive disorder and clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. You may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make you feel as if life isn't worth living. More than just a bout of the blues, depression isn't a weakness, nor is it something that you can simply "snap out" of. Depression is a chronic illness that usually requires long-term treatment, like diabetes or high blood pressure. But don't get discouraged. Most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling or other treatment.

SYMPTOMS
Depression symptoms include:
--Feelings of sadness or unhappiness
--Irritability or frustration, even over small matters
--Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
--Reduced sex drive
--Insomnia or excessive sleeping
--Changes in appetite ? depression often causes decreased appetite and weight loss, but in some people it causes increased cravings for food and weight gain
--Agitation or restlessness ? for example, pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still
--Irritability or angry outbursts
--Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
--Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration
--Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy ? even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort
--Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right
--Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
--Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide
--Crying spells for no apparent reason
--Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

For some people, depression symptoms are so severe that it's obvious something isn't right. Other people feel generally miserable or unhappy without really knowing why. Depression affects each person in different ways, so symptoms caused by depression vary from person to person. Inherited traits, age, gender and cultural background all play a role in how depression may affect you.
Depression symptoms in children and teens
--In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, hopelessness and worry.
--Symptoms in adolescents and teens may include anxiety, anger and avoidance of social interaction.
--Changes in thinking and sleep are common signs of depression in adolescents and adults but are not as common in younger children.
--In children and teens, depression often occurs along with behavior problems and other mental health conditions, such as anxiety or attention-deficit/hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
--Schoolwork may suffer in children who are depressed.
Depression symptoms in older adults
Depression is not a normal part of growing older, and most seniors feel satisfied with their lives. However, depression can and does occur in older adults. Unfortunately, it often goes undiagnosed and untreated. Many adults with depression feel reluctant to seek help when they're feeling down.
--In older adults, depression may go undiagnosed because symptoms ? for example, fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems or loss of interest in sex ? may seem
to be caused by other illnesses.
--Older adults with depression may have less obvious symptoms. They may feel dissatisfied with life in general, bored, helpless or worthless. They may always want
to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things.
--Suicidal thinking or feelings in older adults is a sign of serious depression that should never be taken lightly, especially in men. Of all people with depression, older
adult men are at the highest risk of suicide.
When to see a doctor
If you feel depressed, make an appointment to see your doctor as soon as you can. Depression symptoms may not get better on their own ? and depression may get worse if it isn't treated. Untreated depression can lead to other mental and physical health problems or problems in other areas of your life. Feelings of depression can also lead to suicide. If you're reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or loved one, a health care professional, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts, get help right away. Here are some steps you can take:
--Contact a family member or friend.
--Seek help from your doctor, a mental health provider or other health care professional.
--Call a suicide hot line number ? in the United States, you can reach the toll-free, 24-hour hot line of the
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 to talk to a trained counselor.
--Contact a minister, spiritual leader or someone in your faith community.
When to get emergency help
If you think you may hurt yourself or attempt suicide, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If you have a loved one who has harmed himself or herself, or is seriously considering doing so, make sure someone stays with that person. Take him or her to the hospital or call for emergency help.