Depression Definition - Basics

A lot of people don't realize that depression is an illness. If they had never experienced it, it would be next to impossible for them to relate to how it feels. They will stop taking it casually, if they know what they are fighting with!

Some people say that depression feels like a black curtain of despair coming down over their lives. Many believe that they are dull and does not deserve anything. Others feel irritable all the time for no apparent reason.

You are one of 20 million people in the US alone who suffer with DEPRESSION. If you have depression, or if someone you love is struggling with this condition, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Depression is a serious medical illness that affects more than 32 million people in their lifetime.

Lets start with the basics of Depression:

Symptoms of Depression - Well, the symptoms of depression varies from a person to person, but there are certain common traits as well.

Cause of Depression - Discover the different causes of depression. From genetics to illnesses & medications to major life events here's what we know.

Diagnosis of Depression - Feeling depressed and wonder if you should call the doctor? Find out how a doctor makes a depression diagnosis.

Your Personal "Brain Maintenance" Program - We have tried to create some of the basic steps & ways in which you can develop your own best fit holistic program.

Tension Diary - Your therapist will recommend a Tension Diary where you can make a daily record of your most stressful times, & physical symptoms of tension.

Facts on Depression Statistics - Nearly twice as many women (6.5 percent) as men (3.3 percent) suffer from major depressive disorder each year.

More in Depression Basics

ICD-10
DSM4
Relaxation Exercise
Mini-mental state examination
Parents role in child depression
Rate of Suicide in Teenagers!
Misconception among depression in elderly
Deprex - a natural antidepresant
What Can Parents Do If a Teenager is Depressed?
Looking for a therapist - making the most of your appointment
Steps for choosing a therapist

About 50% of all depressed patients experience a single episode and recover completely; the rest have at least one recurrence. Major depression can profoundly alter social, family, and occupational functioning. However, suicide is the most serious consequence of major depression; the patient's feelings of worthlessness, guilt,and hopelessness are so overwhelming that she no longer considers life worth living. Nearly twice as many women as men attempt suicide, but men are far more likely to succeed.

A depressive disorder is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood. It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away. People with a depressive illness cannot merely "pull themselves together" and get better. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. Appropriate treatment, however, can help most people who suffer from depression.

Depression is a biological-based mental illness that can have lasting emotional and physical effects, such as feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or indecision; difficulty concentrating; change in appetite or sleep habits; loss of energy, interest, or pleasure; loud, violent, troubled, agitated, slowed, or anti-social behaviors; drug or alcohol abuse; and difficulty with interpersonal relationships.

A period of depressed mood which lasts for several days or a few weeks is a normal part of life and is not necessarily a cause for concern. Although these feelings are often referred to as "depression," they typically do not constitute a clinical depression because the depression symptoms are relatively mild and of short duration.

Most people with a depressive illness do not seek treatment, although the great majority-even those whose depression is extremely severe-can be helped. Thanks to years of fruitful research, there are now medications and psychosocial therapies such as cognitive/behavioral, "talk" or interpersonal that ease the pain of depression.

Unfortunately, many people do not recognize that depression is a treatable illness. If you feel that you or someone you care about is one of the many undiagnosed depressed people in this country, the information presented here may help you take the steps that may save your own or someone else's life.

Treating depression is especially important because it affects you, your family, and your work. Change won't come overnight - but with the right treatment, you can keep depression from overshadowing your life.

Facts and Tips about Depression

Depression is most common health illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of life form blue or sad and usually fleeting and passes within a couple of days.
Depression are occur when the person has a sadness, it facing with daily life, normal performance, and causes pain for both the person with the illness and those who care about him or her.
Depression lead to some genetics condition, family member, friend, or pet can go beyond normal grief, a negative, stressful, or unhappy family atmosphere and certain medical conditions can affect hormone balance and therefore have an effect on mood.
Lack of energy and feeling tired all the time, inability to enjoy things that used to bring pleasure, withdrawal from friends and family, irritability, anger, or anxiety, inability to concentrate, weight loss or gain these are some symptoms of depression.
Person with depression can also feel tired, irritable, and notice changes in appetite.
Prevent for this disorder stop believe all of negative thinking, do not take drugs and alcohol Both make depression worse, stop making big life decision that time you have depression.
Risk factor in this case can increase and developing coronary artery disease, HIV, asthma, and some other medical illnesses.

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Looking at this im am concered i am suffering from this, i say 'suffer' as it seems to be a disorder in its true form and yet as i sit back i wonder where the caring compassionate young woman i used to be has gone, i realise how far i have gone.... i do not know what to do with myself and im too afraid to speak to someone about it as i fear what they will think...
is there help for this? what is the cause? i need help but is there any available??-Deborah