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Depression
is a stress related illness. It is the
most common mental illness. One in six
women suffer and one in nine men. It
is thought men are more reluctant to
seek help or even admit they have depression.
Depression
varies from ''the blues'' to something
more serious culminating in a feeling
of hopelessness and dispair.
Depression
often centers around the lack of purpose
in your life and the thought that it
might even be better to end it. This
is the point which is critical and could
result in suicide.
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please if you suffer depression don't
let it get that far before you seek
professional help.
Depression
doesn't always have a definite cause
and can strike suddenly. It is related
to stress and if you are stressed for
a long period you are likely to become
depressed.
Your depression
may start with a feeling of being under
the weather. However you can still prevent
full depression from affecting you.
When
depression begins and you feel low,
your self esteem falls and you lose
your motivation. Procrastination sets
in and you feel worse. This is the start
of a spiral downwards.
Can't
make decisions
Waking in the early morning
Wanting to cry
Lack of energy
Loss of appetite
Drinking too much
Eating too much
Loss of interest in sex
Not caring about your appearance
Becoming withdrawn
Feeling you can't be bothered
Suffering from poor self esteem
Can't concentrate
Lack of self confidence
Feeling isolated or lonely
Lacking purpose in your life
If you have several symptoms you may
be depressed
Depression
is one of the most common psychological
problems, affecting nearly everyone
through either personal experience or
through depression in a family member.
Each year over 17 million American adults
experience a period of clinical depression.
The cost in human suffering cannot be
estimated. Depression can interfere
with normal functioning, and frequently
causes problems with work, social and
family adjustment. It causes pain and
suffering not only to those who have
a disorder, but also to those who care
about them. Serious depression can destroy
family life as well as the life of the
depressed person.
- Causes tremendous
emotional pain
- Disrupts the lives
of millions of people
- Adversely affects
the lives of families and friends
- Reduces work productivity
and absenteeism
- Has a significant
negative impact on the economy,
costing an estimated $44 billion
a year
Depression and bipolar
depression are presented separately
on this website because of the unique
problems encountered with bipolar disorder.
Individuals interested in information
about bipolar disorder should also review
the information on depression, as bipolar
disorder usually includes depressive
episodes as well. Bipolar disorder was
formerly called manic-depressive disorder.
It is a type of depression, and it characterized
by the presence of mood swings, especially
"manic highs" that often result
in high risk, self-damaging behavior.
Most individuals with bipolar disorder
have both depressive episodes and hypomanic
episodes. Depression is a psychological
condition that changes how you think
and feel, and also affects your social
behavior and sense of physical well-being.
We have all felt sad at one time or
another, but that is not depression.
Sometimes we feel tired from working
hard, or discouraged when faced with
serious problems. This too, is not depression.
These feelings usually pass within a
few days or weeks, once we adjust to
the stress. But, if these feelings linger,
intensify, and begin to interfere with
work, school or family responsibilities,
it may be depression. Depression can
affect anyone. Once identified, most
people diagnosed with depression are
successfully treated. Unfortunately,
depression is not always diagnosed,
because many of the symptoms mimic physical
illness, such as sleep and appetite
disturbances. Recognizing depression
is the first step in treating it. Nearly
two-thirds of depressed people do not
get proper treatment:
- The symptoms are
not recognized as depression.
- Depressed people
are seen as weak or lazy.
- Social stigma causes
people to avoid needed treatment.
- The symptoms are
so disabling that the people affected
cannot reach out for help.
- Many symptoms are
misdiagnosed as physical problems
- Individual symptoms
are treated, rather than the underlying
cause.
Clinical depression
is a very common psychological problem,
and most people never seek proper treatment,
or seek treatment but they are misdiagnosed
with physical illness. This is extremely
unfortunate because, with proper treatment,
nearly 80% of those with depression
can make significant improvement in
their mood and life adjustment.
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