Depression

Depression:
Depression is more than feeling sad. It is an intense feelings of sadness and other symptoms, like losing interest in things you enjoy, may last for a while. Depression is a medical illness, and it's treatable. Depression is a mood disorder 

Symptoms: Causes: Treatments:  Learn all about different depression treatment options. Find out about depression medicines and other depression remedies to see which may work best for you. There are many types of depression medicines today. To work with your doctor to select the best depression medicine for your symptoms. Find out how talk therapy works to lift mood and help patients with depression improve coping skills. Electric shock treatment, or ECT, for depression is used for severe depression or when depression medicines fail to work. Find out more about ECT and who might benefit most. Learn about interpersonal therapy for depression in children and addresses group sessions, techniques, and what to expect. Find out about the effectiveness of psychodynamic therapy for depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy, how this approach works, and what to expect in session.  Genetics: Genetic factors play an important role in major depression and bipolar disorder. A child has an approximately 25% chance of having the disorder if one parent has it and a 50% chance if both parents have it. Also it is very common if both of your parents have a depression disorder, but it isn't that common if only one parent has it. <span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;">General Public Perception: Most people in the public think they can read someone and know if they have depression or not. But it is not that easy, a lot of people with the disorder depression can put on a good show and then be very sad and depressed in the inside.
 * Difficulty concentrating, remembering details, and making decisions.
 * Fatigue and loss of energy.
 * Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and/or helplessness
 * Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
 * Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or excessive sleeping
 * Irritability, restlessness
 * Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable.
 * Overeating or appetite loss
 * Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems.
 * Persistent sad, anxious.
 * Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
 * **Abuse.** Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can cause depression later in life.
 * **Certain medications.** For example, some drugs used to treat high blood pressure, can increase your risk of depression.
 * **Conflict.** Depression may result from personal disputes with family members or friends.
 * **Death or a loss.** Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, can also increase the risk of depression.
 * **Genetics.** A family history of depression may increase the risk. It's thought that depression is passed genetically from one generation to the next..
 * **Major events.** Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring.
 * **Other personal problems.** Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses can lead to depression.
 * **Serious illnesses.** A major illness can lead to depression.
 * **Substance abuse.** Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also have major or clinical depression.
 * **Depression Treatments:**
 * **Depression Medicines:**
 * **Psychotherapy:**
 * **Electric Shock Treatment:**
 * **Interpersonal Therapy:**
 * **Psychodynamic Therapy:**
 * **Cognitive Behavioral Therapy:**

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;">Laura's Personal Depression Story "I was first diagnosed with major Depression at the age of 30. The roots of the depression were multiple: a dear friend of mine died of breast cancer, I just moved to a new city to work and go to graduate school, and my marriage was falling apart. There were too many competing priorities/stresses and one can only take so much. I had extreme loss of appetite and lost a lot of weight. I would cry very easily at the most inappropriate times. I felt as though I lost my total sense of being. Believe it or not, at the time I actually never considered that I was depressed - It was just that I was losing control of a very busy schedule and was unable to grieve for my friend properly. My life changed when I went to my school's pastoral counselor to talk about spirituality and losing my friend to cancer. At these sessions, I cried uncontrollably. It was as if a huge bubble burst from inside me and out poured this sadness that was buried deep within. The priest said to me that he thought I was experiencing depression. I just fell apart right there because I never put it all together before. He made an appointment through student health to meet with a psychiatrist that week. She confirmed my Depression systems and made a diagnosis. It was so strange because I was slightly relieved to know that I wasn't going crazy (I felt so guilty for losing so much control), but I was also petrified because I didn't know what the future held. Was I every going to be the same person again?"

Link: http://www.healthyplace.com/depression/depression-treatment/personal-stories-of-depression-and-treatment-laura/

<span style="color: #0000ff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 160%;">Sources:
http://www.webmd.com/depression/default.htm http://www.psychologynet.org/report/depression-faq/is-depression-genetic.html