MAIN Health Diseases & Conditions Depression

Every life has its highs and lows, but depending on circumstances those lows can reach the lowest depths of major depression.

At these times, medical treatment is available in the form of drugs, cognitive therapy (talking about your problems with a professional), alternative herbal therapies, vitamin therapies with particular focus on B vitamins, or changes in diet that may relieve symptoms.

Symptoms of depression typically includes feelings of chronic sadness, indecision, helplessness, or self-destructive thoughts. In addition, physical symptoms can be seen in increased fatigue, weight gain or loss, or sleep disturbances.

The condition is usually most diagnosed in women, although men are more likely to mask their depression in feelings of anger or frustration, or by spending endless hours in a "workaholic" frenzy thereby making diagnosis difficult.

Depression may also have a timing component and is typically associated with major life transitions – hormonal changes in teens or in women during pregnancy or menopause; feelings of loneliness felt by college students away from home for the first time; in the process of grieving brought about by death or divorce; losing a job; or when perceptions of helplessness result in depression in the elderly ...

Although not as prevalent as depression, bipolar disorder is another form of depression (manic depressive disorder) in which patients experience wide mood swings from severe highs (manic) to severe lows (depression).

Anecdotally, people in the arts are said to suffer mild-to-moderate forms of manic depressive symptoms, accomplishing their most creative work in manic phases. However, if left untreated, severe forms of bipolar disorder may sometimes lead to complete psychosis. If you've heard the old saying, "Genius is close to insanity," this is probably why that adage became popular.

One newer area of research is seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It seems that the human body can cause an emotional reaction to the shorter days of winter. The further north people live, the more common this condition becomes. The fewer hours of sunlight may trigger a depressive state in some people - it isn't just the holiday stress that makes short, winter days seem sad.

SAD can lead to excessive fatigue and sleeping for longer hours. A craving for carbohydrate rich foods, that seems to be part of this disorder, combined with fatigue and sleeping more makes it easier to understand the seasonal weight gain many people experience. Adding artificial sunlight indoors and increasing outdoor activities while the sun is shining seems to help with both the symptoms of depression and the weight gain.

Elsewhere on the Web, learn more about depression in all its forms along with facts, information & advice on symptoms, treatments, and where to get support for the illness which can effect everyone of us, in varying degrees, at any point in our lives...

NIMH: Depression - Extensive guide to the topic from the U.S. National Institute of Mental Health with information on symptoms, treatment and self-care, explanations on the different types of depression, tips & advice on where to get help plus related links and helpful online resources.

Depression - What You Need to Know - One-stop browsing for basic information on bipolar disorder and depression with tips and advice for teens, college students and in the workplace, plus how to cope with holiday depression & stress, with more on common mood disorders and postpartum depression.

Depression Screening Test - From NYU Medical Center, featuring questions visitors may answer on physical and emotional symptoms in an interactive quiz that provides a preliminary online diagnosis. Includes additional resources on where to get help.

Depression - Information for teens from KidsHealth.org featuring an interactive tutorial about teen depression & information on symptoms, how depression affects brain chemistry, and where to get help. In English and Spanish.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) - An overview of the popular class of antidepressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, and others, with information on how they work, typical dosing, common side effects, possible risks and drug interactions.

St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) and the Treatment of Depression - A complete fact sheet on the herbal remedy including its history, why and how it is used in depression treatment, advice on risks and side effects, with links to further information on related research and clinical trials.

Cognitive Therapy for Depression - How psychotherapy and professional support can help depressed patients overcome pessimistic ideas, unrealistic expectations, and self-criticism.

Diet and Depression: Is There a Link? Can it Hurt to Try? - Exploratory discussion on diet and supplements including tryptophan, Omega-3 fatty acids and other suggested natural treatments for depression plus related links & resources.

also see -> Menopause | Mental Health | Teen Health | Teen Drinking

PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Senior Health | Women's Health

This information is intended as reference and not as medical advice.
All treatment decisions should be made by medical professionals.