It’s absolutely normal to feel sad now and then. Sadness and melancholy are ordinary feelings and emotions experienced by a person because of some disappointing or sorrowful event (such as the breakup of a long-term relationship, the loss of a job, or the death of a loved one). However, there is a difference between ordinary depression, and mental or major depression that psychologists classify as a mental disorder.
By definition, mental depression is depression in a very severe and acute state that it would greatly interfere with the sufferer’s abilities (such as his concentration, sociability and decision-making), thus making him lead a lesser quality of life. Unlike normal depression which can be linked to a direct cause, major depression is a state that would usually have no external reason behind it. Also, major depression would last for long periods of time; in contrast, a person with normal depression would usually bounce back to his usual frame of mind more quickly.
Major depression is actually more common than most think. Statistics show that it affects about 14 to 15 million people in the United States alone. Also, it has been reported that at any one time, 6 to 10 percent of the population in the US are diagnosed to be clinically depressed, and about one in five people would experience major depression at one point in their lives. Many famous people are believed to have suffered from major depression, and these include Queen Victoria, Abraham Lincoln, Jean Jacques Rousseau and Sigmund Freud.
Statistics show that female depression is twice more likely to occur than male depression. Though it’s not entirely sure why this is so, some researchers believe that it’s because women are more exposed to situations that could potentially cause stress, such as being a working mother, or experiencing physical and sexual abuse. In addition, studies are being done as to why depression rates are going up all over the world; in fact, it is three times more likely for people living now to suffer from depression than it was for people who lived in earlier generations. It has also been found that childhood depression is becoming more and more common.
Symptoms of major depression include emotions such as persistent hopelessness, tiredness and sadness; and actions such as shunning social relationships; exhibiting low self-esteem; showing poor performance in work and at school; having poor sleeping and eating patterns; and being extremely sensitive, irritable or hostile.
Depression diagnosis may be harder than for other more obvious mental disorders, since depression is usually shrugged off as merely being down in the dumps, or being just a phase (especially for childhood depression). If you suspect that a loved one has depression, try to qualify your suspicions. Questions to ask include the following: Do they feel that they are not useful or needed? Are they constantly restless, downhearted and blue, without any apparent reason? Do they get tired easily? Are they losing weight? Do they sometimes talk (or blog about) topics such as pain, suicide or death? These questions would help you put the situation in perspective; if your suspicions get stronger because of this then it’s highly important that you accompany them to a psychologist to get a professional diagnosis and more depression information. Once this diagnosis has been established, it would be the start of the treatment process.
During the treatment, some antidepressant medicines may be prescribed. The most commonly-prescribed antidepressants are called Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, or SSRI’s, which include the generic names Citalopram, Fluoxetine and Fluvoxamine.
There are mixed reviews on antidepressants; in one study, about 50% of patients on antidepressants exhibited highly improved conditions and were even determined to be symptom-free. However, some studies would counter that antidepressant success rates are grossly exaggerated. In any case, these pills should never be looked upon as a magic formula to cure the disorder; it should only be taken in conjunction with a well-rounded treatment.
Depression treatment modes include psychotherapy (or talk therapy), family therapy (wherein the members of the whole family are involved), and even natural treatment methods including yoga, herbal medications like St. John’s Wort, and adjustment to the diet and lifestyle of the patient.
The key here is to remember the following things: major depression is common; it’s a disorder wherein the sufferer would need to receive proper treatment; overcoming depression is highly possible; and this is the time that his loved ones need to show him encouragement and understanding as he starts his journey towards a better quality of life.
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