DEPRESSION: How Blue Are You?
Over 19 Million American Adults Suffer From Depression... Do You?
It may surprise you that depression is the most common brain disease in the country. Depressive illnesses set back the economy $30 - 44 billion a year in medical care, drugs, related health problems, absenteeism, etc. Families of depressed people suffer as well. Suicide rates soar among the depressed. One reason why is family and friends often don't know much about depression and don't take the signs of suicidal behavior seriously. We often don't expect it to affect young children, teens, those who are "successful", or even the elderly, but it does-and frequently.
Effective treatments exist, but only one in three depressed people seek help. The following information may help you take the steps towards saving yourself or someone else from much needless suffering.
Are You Bluer Than Blue?
Every experience of loss entails feeling "blue". It's normal. Sooner or later, the sadness, anger, lethargy, despair, or guilt passes and "Voilà!" you're left feeling like your old self again. Normal depression stops being normal when you can't recover. A depressive disorder is a case of the blues that won't budge. You can't willfully rid yourself of depression or simply "snap out of it" and get better. If you are feeling bluer than blue or feeling blue for no reason at all and these feelings interfere with daily life, you could very well have a depressive disorder.
The Depression Question
There comes a time in life when a friend, co-worker, or family member dares to ask, what may arguably be the most dreadful question of all: "What's wrong?" The dreadful thing about this question and questions in general is that it makes it seem like there are definite answers. Keep in mind there is no final answer to what triggers depression. In fact, depression, like the common cold often occurs for no apparent reason.
Just as there isn't one type of heart disease, there isn't just one type of depression either. Depressive illness affects people differently. The three most common depressive disorders are briefly surveyed below.
Mild Depression or Dysthymia (pronounced: dis-THI-mee-uh) doesn't disable a person, but it does transform everything into a chore for the individual. It involves the "loser" mentality of poor self-esteem and a lingering depressed mood. You can still go to work everyday and do the laundry every week, but the ability to truly enjoy life is lost.
Major Depression involves despair and hopelessness so profound that life becomes like a very long and very bad movie: You can't wait for it to end. However it isn't always this way. You can suffer from other symptoms caused by major depression such as severe weight gain, anxiety, irritability, or insomnia and never consciously feel blue.
Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder involves bouts of major depression alternating with fits of high-energy or elevated mood. Symptoms of mania include grandiose notions, increased talking, racing thoughts and poor judgment leading to risk-taking and socially inappropriate behavior.
Serious depression goes hand in hand with serious stress. Doing nothing about it only puts your life as well as the lives of others at risk. Help is available now. If someone you know suffers from a depressive illness, let him or her know that he or she can be, and deserves to be, helped. Talk with your personal health care provider to discuss your options, or how you may help someone you care about. Talk about it soon before it's too late.
Remember, depression can hit at anytime, any stage in life.