Depression
By Roland Larrabee, M.D.
Depression is when you feel sad, hopeless, and uninterested in daily life. You may have other symptoms as well. Depression can be mild to severe. It can last for a short time or a long time. We all have times when we feel sad and "blue." However, when you feel this way for more than 2 weeks in a row, it is called clinical depression. Clinical depression is a medical problem.
Depression can begin at any age. It usually begins in the young adult years unless it is caused by medical or substance abuse problems. It may come on slowly over weeks or months, but it can also come on suddenly. The exact cause of depression is not known. It may result from chemical imbalances in the brain and nervous system. You may have abnormal levels of the chemicals that your nervous system uses to send signals to and from the brain. Depression tends to run in families. Stress also plays a part.
You are at a greater risk of developing depression if you:
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have parents or family members who have had depression
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frequently use alcohol or drugs
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have medical problems
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get very little exercise
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are under a great deal of stress
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have seriously thought about suicide or tried to commit suicide
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have few personal and social supports.
Besides feeling sad and uninterested in things you usually enjoy, you may also:
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be irritable and aggressive
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have trouble falling asleep, wake up very early, or sleep too much
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notice changes in your appetite and weight, either up or down
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feel more anxiety and panic
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notice changes in your energy level, usually down but sometimes feeling overexcited
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lose sexual desire and function
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feel worthless and guilty
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have trouble concentrating or remembering things
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feel hopeless or just not care about anything
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have unexplained physical symptoms
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think often about death or suicide.
You should not try to overcome clinical depression by yourself. Depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy, antidepressant or mood stabilizing medicines, or a combination of these therapies.
Most of the time, you will feel much better after a few weeks of treatment. Different kinds of clinical depression last for different amounts of time and experts do not fully understand why. Often depression lasts a few weeks and never comes again. It can also last months or years. Some people experience depression over and over all their lives.
If you are showing signs of depression, seek professional help quickly. Do not try to overcome depression all by yourself. Seek professional help if you believe that you or a loved one has the symptoms of clinical depression. Get emergency care if you or a loved one has serious thoughts of suicide or harming others.
Dr. Larrabee is Associate Director of Family and Community Medicine at the Walter L. Aument Family Health Center, 317 S. Chestnut St., Quarryville.