Don’t Suffer On Your Own, Depression Is Treatable
Did you know that women experience depression at a rate of 2:1 as compared to men? The reason for this, at least in part, is the large hormonal fluctuations women have throughout their lives. Men can become depressed, too, but it tends to look differently. Men usually become hostile and angry, not withdrawn and inward. They also are prone to avoiding treatment. Men commit suicide at a rate of 4:1 compared to women. The elderly also fall ill and often fail to get treatment. Well-meaning family members may think that the behavior of their elderly relative is just due to the aging process. This is not necessarily the case.
Despite common belief that someone with this illness can just snap out of it at will, this is not true. There is no one thing that is responsible for this disease. It can be genetic and run in families. People with a trauma history and people in chronic pain are susceptible to depression. Other causes include medication and thyroid disease.
Depression is a mood disorder in which signals are not passed between neurons normally. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that are in charge of passing the signals between neurons. Neurotransmitter signals may be too weak or there may not be enough of a particular neurotransmitter, similar to a phone line with a bad connection.
If you or someone you know experience any of the symptoms for more than a two-week period of time, seek medical attention. Some of the symptoms of depression include lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities, isolation, difficulty concentrating or remembering, being irritable, feeling worthless and hopeless, gaining or losing more than 5% of your weight on a month, lack of energy, sleeping too much or having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep, thinking about death and suicide, physical pain, digestive problems, headache and hurting all over.
Some common forms of the illness include childhood and postpartum depression, bipolar disorder and seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Children can be depressed and may not be able to tell you in words what they are feeling. Children most often express what they are feeling through their behavior. Be attentive to any changes in the behavior or your children. Postpartum depression occurs in the first year after giving birth. This manifestation of the illness can be very debilitating and guilt producing. The woman may feel that because she just had this wonderful child she should not be feeling the way she does. This is just not true. She needs to get help. Bipolar is characterized by extreme periods of extremely sad, hopeless moods and mania. It tends to run in families. Seasonal affective disorder most often occurs in people living in northern latitudes with short winter days and long nights.
The good news is that treatment is possible. In fact, about 80% of people respond to treatment. The most effective treatment is a combination of behavioral therapy and medication. Stress management, meditation, eating right, exercising and taking time to do enjoyable activities act as preventatives.
Depression can lead to death by suicide if left untreated. If symptoms are particularly severe or have lasted more than two weeks, see a doctor. There is no need to suffer. Medications and therapy are available to help you. It is a biological issue like type I diabetes and can be treated, but you have to make the first step to get help.
Depression is a real illness. It’s not just a state of mind or something that you can think yourself out of. If you want to know more about a self depression test or healing anxiety and depression, visit our website for all the free resources you will need.