Depression is a common problem. It is a disease that affects millions of people all around the world and many people brush it off until the symptoms become so severe that it can be life threatening problem. Waiting too long can have devastating effects. Depression that is the number one cause of suicide, and yet it is something that is treatable if we would only recognized the problem.
Suicide has a stigma attached to it. People often don’t want to admit they have this problem because they’re afraid others will not understand. The causes of depression are often minimized. They seem common, and they are afraid other people will think they are weak for not being able to deal with everyday issues.
Two are the most common age groups that only suffers severe depression are teenagers, and the elderly. However rising group to population in their mid thirties and forties are experiencing severe depression due to stress. There also types of depression brought on by a situation such as postpartum.
It is important to monitor your depression and know what the level of depression you are experiencing is and to know when to report depression to your Physician. The three levels of depression are:
1) major depressive disorders,
2) Dysthymic disorder,
3) manic depression.
In major depressive disorders that depressed person experiences depression for the most part of the day for a week or more. They experience a definite lack of satisfaction in every area and activity. Some of the symptoms of major depressive disorders are excessive weight loss, excessive sleeping or the inability to sleep, fatigue loss of energy, a feeling of unworthiness, and thoughts of suicide. If you or anyone you know experiences any combination of these symptoms it is important to seek the help of a Physician.
With the Dysthymic disorder the patient experiences severe depression and for two years or more along with two or more of the following symptoms: difficulty eating or overeating, difficulty sleeping or excessive sleeping, severe fatigue, loss of self esteem, the difficulty than concentrating or making decisions, the general feeling of hopelessness.
Manic depression also known as bipolar disorder has many symptoms that some people don’t even recognize as depression it is categorize by sharp periods of up an equally sharp periods of deep depression. The cycle between the two periods can be very rapid and sometimes only one will be present without the other. These moods can last for up to a week or longer and are accompanied by two or more of the following symptoms: overinflated sense of self importance, excessive sleeping, rapid talking with the need to keep talking, racing ideas at a rapid succession of thoughts, increasing types of activities that are heavily goal oriented such as school and work. This type of depression can be so severe is to warrant hospitalization to prevent self inflicted harm and can include some psychotic problems such as hallucinations.
Other types of depression include postpartum, anxiety caused by stress and tension, endogenous depression which is a feeling of general dissatisfaction and depression coming from inside, situational or reactionary depression which is depression traded by a certain situation, melancholic depression to name just a few.
None of these forms of depression will go away by themselves. It’s a common feeling to just ride out the storm, that it will go away. Depression does not go away by itself. While you can experience some periods of relief where it seems like everything is okay if there is no more depression these are temporary relief periods not a cure for what caused them.
If you or somebody you love is experiencing any symptoms of depression please seek medical advice. You do not have to live like that. There is much that can be done to alleviate the symptoms that allow you to live a happier more productive life.
Ronen David is the chairman of “Malam” (an Israeli organization supporting and representing those dealing with mental disabilities). He is the author of the “How to Cope With Psychosis & Schizophrenia Self Help Handbook”.
Visit his web site and learn Preventing Depression