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Depression is a common but serious mood disorder. It affects over 19 million teens and adults in the United States! Depression can cause severe symptoms that affect how you think, feel, and handle daily activities. However, depression and other mental health illnesses often have a negative stigma attached to them.

Those with mental health illnesses are often afraid to talk to others about their illness because they fear you may view them differently, be afraid of them, or distance yourself from them. This can lead people with mental health illnesses to avoid medical care or just asking a friend for help! One way to help turn that negative stigma around is to start talking about it.

There are different types of depression. Major depression is diagnosed when you have symptoms of depression nearly every day for at least 2 weeks that interfere with your ability to work, sleep, eat, and enjoy life. Another type of depression is postpartum depression. Women with postpartum depression experience major depression during pregnancy or after delivery. The feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that accompany postpartum depression may make it difficult for these new mothers to complete daily care activities for themselves and/or for their babies.

Seasonal affective disorder is another type of depression, which is characterized by the onset of depression during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight. This depression generally lifts during spring and summer.

Depression affects each person differently and not everyone has the same symptoms. However, some of the common symptoms associated with depression are: feelings of hopelessness or pessimism; feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or helplessness; loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities; difficulty concentrating or making decisions; problems with sleeping: sleeping too much or too little; overeating or not eating at all; thoughts of suicide or your own death.

Depression can also manifest itself as physical symptoms. Aches, pain, headaches, cramps, stomach issues that don’t resolve with medical treatment or have no known physical cause could be symptoms of depression. To be diagnosed with depression, symptoms must be present on all or most days for at least 2 weeks.

There are many factors that lead to depression; such as genetic, environmental, biological and psychological factors. Depression often begins in adulthood. Although, it is now recognized as occurring in childhood and adolescence. There are some factors that put a person at higher risk for depression: personal or family history of depression; major life changes, trauma or stress; and certain physical illnesses or medications.

All hope is not lost!! There are treatment options for depression. There are medications (antidepressants), psychotherapy, or a combination of both. The earlier you start treatment for depression, the better. Antidepressants usually take 2-4 weeks to improve symptoms; usually symptoms such as sleep, appetite, and concentration improve before your mood improves.

Here are other things you can do that could help you during treatment for depression: try to be active and exercise; try to spend time with others and confide in a trusted friend; try not to isolate yourself and let others help you; set realistic goals for yourself; expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately; postpone important life decisions until your mood improves; and continue to educate yourself on depression.

If you feel that you have symptoms depression, please contact your primary healthcare provider (PCP). Your PCP can help you get started on treatment or refer you to a specialist who can. To learn more on depression, go to http://www.nimh.nih.gov.

Thanks for joining me again this month! If you have questions or comments, you can find me at Dahl Memorial Healthcare Association or you can email me at [email protected].

Raquel S. Williams, RN BSN