Elizabeth is a 32-year-old mother of two young children with a professional career. Recently, Elizabeth noticed that she often feels fatigued, irritated, and, simply, unhappy. Elizabeth also notices that she no longer enjoys activities that once brought her joy, such as taking evening walks with her family. Additionally, Elizabeth feels like she does not have the energy necessary to complete her duties at work or play with her children when they ask.
Eventually, Elizabeth sits down with her husband, Richard, to discuss her feelings. Over cups of tea, Richard and Elizabeth speak openly about their happiness, their long-term goals, and how they are both coping with the rigors of their busy lives. As Elizabeth opens up about her feelings, Richard becomes concerned and begins to understand, for the first time, that his wife may be suffering from depression, and may need help. Richard's mind becomes flooded with thoughts about depression, and the portrayal of depression in popular culture. The more Richard thinks about depression the more he realizes that he may not have an accurate understanding of what depression really entails. Eventually, Richard asks himself the following question: what is depression, and how is it treated?
Unfortunately, the question posed by Richard in the scenario presented above is a common one among Americans in the current social climate. The good news is, that there is an answer to the question that can help individuals understand what depression truly is and how they can get help and treatment. In addition to the question posed by Richard, there are several other questions that can help individuals like Richard fully understand depression. Those questions and answers may be found below.
Depression, or clinical depression, is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent depressed mood and a loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities, which interfere with daily life.
Depression, or clinical depression, is not the same as sadness or grief. The main difference between depression and sadness/grief is that depression significantly interferes with daily life. For example, individuals suffering from depression may not be able to get out of bed in the morning to go to work, even if their job depends on it.
Typically, for most individuals, there is not one specific cause of depression. That being said, there are specific risk factors that may lead to depression such as the death of a loved one, abuse, conflict, prolonged periods of tension, and/or significant life events.
A significant life event may refer to any major shift in an individual's life. Examples of significant life events include the following: marriage, divorce, moving to a new location, school graduation, and a new job.
It is interesting to note that depression may result from a significant life event that does not necessarily have negative connotations, such as getting the desired job.
For example, an individual may finally land his or her dream job in his or her most desirable place to live. However, after the individual relocates and begins the new employment opportunity, the individual finds himself or herself overwhelmed, tense, stressed, anxious, and, ultimately, depressed.
The signs/symptoms of depression go beyond just feeling sad or a little down. Unfortunately, the signs/symptoms of depression can be more varied and more complex. Specific signs/symptoms of depression include the following:
If individuals experience any of the aforementioned signs/symptoms of depression, they should speak to a loved one, and a healthcare professional as soon as possible, especially if they are thinking about death or suicide.
If an individual is thinking about death or suicide he or she should consider calling 1−800−273−TALK (8255) to reach a 24−hour crisis center; 1−800−273−TALK is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which provides free‚ confidential help to individuals in crisis.2
When an individual speaks to a healthcare professional about depression, he or she may undergo an examination, screening process, specific testing, and, ultimately, receive a diagnosis from the healthcare professional. It is worth noting that an individual may receive a depression diagnosis if he or she displays five depression symptoms every day, nearly all day, for at least two weeks.
Once a diagnosis is made, an individual can begin treatment.
Fortunately, there are a variety of treatment options for individuals suffering from depression. Specific treatment options for depression may be found below.
Antidepressants typically work, or reduce and relieve the symptoms of depression, by affecting the chemistry of the brain, which basically means that antidepressants create a stable mental environment that helps individuals handle the stress, anxiety, and rigors of the world around them.
Some of the most commonly prescribed antidepressants include citalopram (Celexa), fluoxetine (Prozac), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft). The aforementioned antidepressants belong to a medication class known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Individuals should note that SSRIs must be prescribed by a healthcare professional, and are often well tolerated by patients - meaning their side effects have a limited impact on those taking the medications.2
There are other types of antidepressants that may be used to treat depression, and individuals may be prescribed more than one medication to help treat their depression. Additionally, antidepressants may be used together with other forms of treatment, such as psychotherapy, to help individuals manage their depression.
When taking antidepressants, individuals should note the following: it is important to follow the instructions on how much medication to take; side effects of antidepressants usually do not get in the way of daily life or daily activities; side effects of antidepressants often go away as an individual's body adjusts to the medication; some antidepressants may cause risks during pregnancy; individuals should speak to a healthcare professional if they become pregnant.
Additionally, and perhaps most importantly, individuals taking antidepressants should note that it may take up to four weeks for an individual to feel the benefits of an antidepressant.2 In other words, antidepressants may take up to four weeks to work. With that in mind, individuals should not stop taking antidepressants because they are not feeling better, or for any other reason, without talking to a healthcare professional first. Abruptly stopping an antidepressant can have negative consequences for an individual.
After having a discussion with her husband, Elizabeth contacts a healthcare professional and schedules an appointment. Elizabeth undergoes an exam and is diagnosed with depression by a healthcare professional. Elizabeth starts Zoloft 50 mg per day and makes an effort to exercise most days of the week and eat healthier.
Six weeks later, Elizabeth is feeling much better. She no longer feels unhappy all the time, and she has more energy to engage with her family and complete her professional duties. As time progresses, Elizabeth continues her Zoloft regimen and learns how to manage her depression so it no longer negatively affects her life.
Elizabeth is happy she can talk openly about her depression and seek the help she needs. Moreover, Elizabeth is happy that depression is no longer dominating her life, and she can enjoy work and, most importantly, her family.
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