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Depression
Everyone gets down from time to time, but sometimes it's more than just "the blues." Sometimes, it can be clinical depression. Clinical depression affects more than 19 million Americans each year. It is a real illness that can be treated effectively. Unfortunately, fewer than half of the people who have this illness seek treatment.
Too many people believe that it is a “normal” part of life and that they can treat it themselves. Left untreated, depression poses a huge burden on employees and employers. It causes unnecessary suffering and disruption in one's life and work, and costs about $44 billion a year in lost workdays, decreased productivity and other losses.
Depression is a treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it." Although it can run in families, you can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse.
The signs and symptoms of clinical depression are:
~ Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood n Changes in sleep patterns
~ Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
~ Loss of pleasure and interest in once-enjoyable activities, including sex
~ Restlessness, irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety, pessimism, indifference
~ Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders
~ Difficulty concentrating at work or at school, or difficulty remembering things or making decisions
~ Fatigue or loss of energy
~ Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
~ Thoughts of suicide or death
~ Unexplained crying spells
~ Significant changes in sleep patterns
~ Unexplained aches and pains
If you experience five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, you could have clinical depression. See a doctor or qualified mental health professional for help, right away.
Everyone gets down from time to time, but sometimes it's more than just "the blues." Sometimes, it can be clinical depression. Clinical depression affects more than 19 million Americans each year. It is a real illness that can be treated effectively. Unfortunately, fewer than half of the people who have this illness seek treatment.
Too many people believe that it is a “normal” part of life and that they can treat it themselves. Left untreated, depression poses a huge burden on employees and employers. It causes unnecessary suffering and disruption in one's life and work, and costs about $44 billion a year in lost workdays, decreased productivity and other losses.
Depression is a treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You can’t make yourself well by trying to "snap out of it." Although it can run in families, you can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes of the illness are unclear, however it is known that body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes, altered health habits, the presence of another illness or substance abuse.
The signs and symptoms of clinical depression are:
~ Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" mood n Changes in sleep patterns
~ Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
~ Loss of pleasure and interest in once-enjoyable activities, including sex
~ Restlessness, irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety, pessimism, indifference
~ Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as chronic pain or digestive disorders
~ Difficulty concentrating at work or at school, or difficulty remembering things or making decisions
~ Fatigue or loss of energy
~ Feeling guilty, hopeless or worthless
~ Thoughts of suicide or death
~ Unexplained crying spells
~ Significant changes in sleep patterns
~ Unexplained aches and pains
If you experience five or more of these symptoms for two weeks or longer, you could have clinical depression. See a doctor or qualified mental health professional for help, right away.
Disclaimer: The contents of this site and all the pages herein are intended for informational purposes only and are subject to change without notice at any time. None of the information in this site is intended to be taken as medical direction or advice, therapeutic, legal, or otherwise. This is not a replacement for professional services. At no time does use of this site nor communication through this site constitute a therapeutic relationship between the user and therapist. Keri M. Zwerner, MA, LMFT and LifeHealingHeart assume no liability for the content of this site or damages that may result from use, reference to, reliance on, or decisions resulting from its use. Use of this site establishes your consent to the provisions of this disclaimer. Copyright 2006. All rights reserved