depression

You may have been feeling "blue" for no particular reason, or there seems to be a feeling of sadness that you can't shake since you started experiencing marital problems. You've tried to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" or to "just snap out of it", but nothing seems to help. This feeling had gone on for several weeks, until finally, you decided to seek the help of a professional.

If you have been diagnosed with depression, you may feel a sense of relief when you finally have an explanation related to the way that you have been feeling lately. You may have put off seeking help because you were embarrassed to talk to someone about it, and did not want others to know. The good news is that there is no shame in dealing with depression.

Understanding depression begins by realizing that you are not alone in dealing with this illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, on any given day, there may be as many as 5% of the general population who could be diagnosed with Major Depression. Depression is more common than you think. It is estimated that at least 10% of the American population will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lifetime, and others estimate this figure to be as high as 25% of the population.

It is important to realize that depression is a true illness or disorder. It is not a sign of weakness nor does it affect those with a "lack of willpower." Depression strikes all walks of life, and does not discriminate due to race or age. It does however, affect twice as many women as men.

Depression is a medical illness that affects the mind, brain, and the body. Depression refers to a disorder of a significant level of severity and duration. Depression also has some specific symptoms that your doctor or therapist will discuss with you. As stated earlier, this is more than the every day, temporary blues that we all experience from time to time, and it is more than the normal sadness or grief that we experience due to the loss of a loved one.

Depression is often described as painful, even though nothing is "broken." However, what is really "broken" is someone's spirit. It is an emotional state that is very painful to deal with and the depressed person often feels that there is no hope, and cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. They may begin to feel worthless and think they no longer have anything to contribute to their family and friends.

There are many symptoms that accompany depression, and these will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Some of the more common ones are listed below:

Depressed mood - This may best be described as an overwhelming sense of sadness that refuses to go away, despite the person's best attempts to feel better.

Change in appetite - Some people report feeling less hungry, and experience weight loss, while others have an increase in their appetites, and have a resultant weight gain. In a society where we are so image conscious, this can affect their self-esteem and heighten their depression.

Change in sleep patterns - Many people who suffer from depression state that they have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or staying awake.

Loss of interest in usual activities - Nothing seems fun anymore, or things that were once pleasurable, are now very difficult to accomplish.

Loss of energy - The depression may be so severe that the person has difficulty just getting through the day or getting out of bed.

Feelings of worthlessness or guilt - The depressed person may focus on thoughts of personal "sinfulness" or wrongs that they have committed.

Difficulty in thinking or concentrating - The depressed person has decreased mental functioning, and therefore their thinking processes are slowed down.

Change in psychomotor behavior - Some patients report feeling agitated or fidgety, while others seem to slow down and feel that their speech and movements are dragging.

Thoughts of death or suicide - These thoughts may range from wishing that one would have an accident to actually devising a plan about ending one's life. This is an urgent cry for help and one that should always be taken seriously.

According to the 1994 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a major depressive disorder is characterized as "at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest accompanied by at least four additional symptoms of depression." It is important to be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling so that he can offer the best treatment. You may have one of the mood or depressive disorders, but all of the clinicians need to fully understand your situation in order to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan.

Psychotherapy has long been considered one form of treatment for depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on relieving the patient's depressive symptoms and to help them develop strategies for dealing with the interpersonal issues that trigger or cause his/her symptoms. The patient will spend time dealing with their social network and relationships, and how they impact their symptoms.

Cognitive-Behavioral therapy is generally considered short-term therapy grounded in the belief that negative and irrational thoughts form a pattern that can lead to depression. The depressed person has a distorted view of reality and of what is really going on around them. They may see themselves in a distorted and much harsher manner.

Medication, used in conjunction with psychotherapy, has proven to be the most successful in long-term studies. There are many types of antidepressants, and some have side effects for some people. If your doctor prescribes one of these medications for you, it is important that you follow the instructions, and take the medicine for at least two weeks to allow the medication time to work in your body. It is important to discuss any side effects that you experience from the medications. Many patients report wonderful results from their medications, and state that they feel better than they have felt in years!

Another treatment for the severely depressed is ECT, which is electroconvulsive therapy. This is very successful for those patients who experience serious side effects from their medications or they are not effective for them. Your doctor will discuss this with you, if this is an indicated option of treatment.

Depression is a medical illness, and like other illnesses, it is caused by certain genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. It can strike at any time, but fortunately, with proper medical attention, it can be successfully treated. The most remarkable thing happens when the sufferer gets safe and simple medical treatment for this potentially devastating disease; they get their life back!

Information provided by Summit Medical Center Psychiatric Program
Hermitage, TN
March, 2000

Reading Suggestions

Feeling Good by David Burns, MD This is a very useful book that was first published about 1980. For people with chronic depression and anxiety, those two persistent mood disorders, Feeling Good is a book that places some essential cognitive-behavioral interventions in the hands of the reader. Written in a conversational tone, Feeling Good is authored by a psychiatrist who is one of the first to develop cognitive-behavioral therapy for his patients. He is also the author of Intimate Connections, a book that specifically addresses issues related to self-esteem that cause some to isolate from others. He is a graduate of Stanford University, and received additional training at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. While there, he was a student of Aaron Beck, MD, a premier researcher in the field of psychology in the mid-20th century. Essentially, Feeling Good provides its readers with practical skills that center around the premise that our thoughts create our moods. By recognizing the "dysfunctional" thinking patterns, and learning to correct them, Burns offers actual skill-building techniques, with self-assessments to measure progress. Although insight-oriented therapy has its place, and medication is an invaluable treatment intervention for many with depression, this book puts control into the hands of the "patient." Although many seriously depressed people need professional intervention, Feeling Good offers a "common sense" approach for those individuals whose depression is not debilitating. This is not a book for those at risk of self-harm. -Janet McCutchen, EAP Counselor

For further information, please link to:
Freedom From Fear


					Depression
					Depression


			UNDERSTANDING DEPRESSION You may have been feeling "blue" for no particular reason, or there seems to be a feeling of sadness that you can't shake since you started experiencing marital problems. You've tried to "pull yourself up by your bootstraps" or to "just snap out of it", but nothing seems to help. This feeling had gone on for several weeks, until finally, you decided to seek the help of a professional. If you have been diagnosed with depression, you may feel a sense of relief when you finally have an explanation related to the way that you have been feeling lately. You may have put off seeking help because you were embarrassed to talk to someone about it, and did not want others to know. The good news is that there is no shame in dealing with depression. Understanding depression begins by realizing that you are not alone in dealing with this illness. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, on any given day, there may be as many as 5% of the general population who could be diagnosed with Major Depression. Depression is more common than you think. It is estimated that at least 10% of the American population will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lifetime, and others estimate this figure to be as high as 25% of the population. It is important to realize that depression is a true illness or disorder. It is not a sign of weakness nor does it affect those with a "lack of willpower." Depression strikes all walks of life, and does not discriminate due to race or age. It does however, affect twice as many women as men. What is Depression? Depression is a medical illness that affects the mind, brain, and the body. Depression refers to a disorder of a significant level of severity and duration. Depression also has some specific symptoms that your doctor or therapist will discuss with you. As stated earlier, this is more than the every day, temporary blues that we all experience from time to time, and it is more than the normal sadness or grief that we experience due to the loss of a loved one. Depression is often described as painful, even though nothing is "broken." However, what is really "broken" is someone's spirit. It is an emotional state that is very painful to deal with and the depressed person often feels that there is no hope, and cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. They may begin to feel worthless and think they no longer have anything to contribute to their family and friends. What are the Symptoms? There are many symptoms that accompany depression, and these will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis. Some of the more common ones are listed below: Depressed mood - This may best be described as an overwhelming sense of sadness that refuses to go away, despite the person's best attempts to feel better. Change in appetite - Some people report feeling less hungry, and experience weight loss, while others have an increase in their appetites, and have a resultant weight gain. In a society where we are so image conscious, this can affect their self-esteem and heighten their depression. Change in sleep patterns - Many people who suffer from depression state that they have problems falling asleep, staying asleep, or staying awake. Loss of interest in usual activities - Nothing seems fun anymore, or things that were once pleasurable, are now very difficult to accomplish. Loss of energy - The depression may be so severe that the person has difficulty just getting through the day or getting out of bed. Feelings of worthlessness or guilt - The depressed person may focus on thoughts of personal "sinfulness" or wrongs that they have committed. Difficulty in thinking or concentrating - The depressed person has decreased mental functioning, and therefore their thinking processes are slowed down. Change in psychomotor behavior - Some patients report feeling agitated or fidgety, while others seem to slow down and feel that their speech and movements are dragging. Thoughts of death or suicide - These thoughts may range from wishing that one would have an accident to actually devising a plan about ending one's life. This is an urgent cry for help and one that should always be taken seriously. According to the 1994 edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, a major depressive disorder is characterized as "at least two weeks of depressed mood or loss of interest accompanied by at least four additional symptoms of depression." It is important to be honest with your doctor about how you are feeling so that he can offer the best treatment. You may have one of the mood or depressive disorders, but all of the clinicians need to fully understand your situation in order to make an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Treatment Options Psychotherapy has long been considered one form of treatment for depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy focuses on relieving the patient's depressive symptoms and to help them develop strategies for dealing with the interpersonal issues that trigger or cause his/her symptoms. The patient will spend time dealing with their social network and relationships, and how they impact their symptoms. Cognitive-Behavioral therapy is generally considered short-term therapy grounded in the belief that negative and irrational thoughts form a pattern that can lead to depression. The depressed person has a distorted view of reality and of what is really going on around them. They may see themselves in a distorted and much harsher manner. Medication, used in conjunction with psychotherapy, has proven to be the most successful in long-term studies. There are many types of antidepressants, and some have side effects for some people. If your doctor prescribes one of these medications for you, it is important that you follow the instructions, and take the medicine for at least two weeks to allow the medication time to work in your body. It is important to discuss any side effects that you experience from the medications. Many patients report wonderful results from their medications, and state that they feel better than they have felt in years! Another treatment for the severely depressed is ECT, which is electroconvulsive therapy. This is very successful for those patients who experience serious side effects from their medications or they are not effective for them. Your doctor will discuss this with you, if this is an indicated option of treatment. Depression is a medical illness, and like other illnesses, it is caused by certain genetic predispositions and environmental stressors. It can strike at any time, but fortunately, with proper medical attention, it can be successfully treated. The most remarkable thing happens when the sufferer gets safe and simple medical treatment for this potentially devastating disease; they get their life back! Information provided by Summit Medical Center Psychiatric Program Hermitage, TN March, 2000 Reading Suggestions *Feeling Good* by David Burns, MD This is a very useful book that was first published about 1980. For people with chronic depression and anxiety, those two persistent mood disorders, Feeling Good is a book that places some essential cognitive-behavioral interventions in the hands of the reader. Written in a conversational tone, Feeling Good is authored by a psychiatrist who is one of the first to develop cognitive-behavioral therapy for his patients. He is also the author of Intimate Connections, a book that specifically addresses issues related to self-esteem that cause some to isolate from others. He is a graduate of Stanford University, and received additional training at the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. While there, he was a student of Aaron Beck, MD, a premier researcher in the field of psychology in the mid-20th century. Essentially, Feeling Good provides its readers with practical skills that center around the premise that our thoughts create our moods. By recognizing the "dysfunctional" thinking patterns, and learning to correct them, Burns offers actual skill-building techniques, with self-assessments to measure progress. Although insight-oriented therapy has its place, and medication is an invaluable treatment intervention for many with depression, this book puts control into the hands of the "patient." Although many seriously depressed people need professional intervention, Feeling Good offers a "common sense" approach for those individuals whose depression is not debilitating. This is not a book for those at risk of self-harm. -Janet McCutchen, EAP Counselor For further information, please link to: Freedom From Fear Back to "Apply To You" HOME