When family or friends are diagnosed with cancer or any other chronic illness, loved ones offersupport. Depression is a lonely medical illness, particularly for the afflicted who forgo medicalattention and family support. Due to the historical stigmatism associated with the disorder, itremains a silent topic.In general, a physician will find a clogged artery in the patient who suffers from unusual pains inhis arm and other heart- associated attacks. Until one identifies a relentless sadness and doom,family, friends and physicians are unable to offer their support.The mind and body work in unison, as one single unit. When the brain becomes imbalanced itimpacts the rest of the body. Just as diabetes, leukemia and heart disease are medicalconditions, the same is true of depression. Dissimilar to other chronic illnesses, the depressiveorder is triggered by the stresses of everyday living.
Blues, Depression, Facts and Fallacies
The indescribable feeling of sadness and hopelessness experienced in depression is hard topinpoint. There’s a substantial difference between feeling the pangs of the blues comparedto the debilitating pain of depression. For each person who experiences depression, thesymptoms are unique and range in severity and duration. Unlike other medical conditions,depression is sometimes hard to define. It is the most common psychiatric illness in theuniverse. Approximately 15 percent of the world population will experience a bout of depression at some point in their life.
FACT: One out of 10 American adults is afflicted with major depression. Even though morethan 65 percent of the depressed population will respond to therapy, approximately, 70 percentwill have a depression relapse within 10 years. These percentages do not account for the 60percent of depressed people who have never been diagnosed or even treated.Since depression is not easy to identify and is stigmatized, many people forgo treatment.Distinguishing between the blues and an episode of depression requires personal introspection.Unlike depression, a blue mood is short lived. It will not last for several weeks. Temporarystints of the blues do not interfere with the regular day operations of one’s life the waydepression does.The effects of depression can set off a chain reaction of extreme and disturbing mood changes.Daily functions (eating, appetite, sleeping habits and energy els) will be hindered and altered.Quite often, a person may lose interest in personal hobbies and preferences. In general, mostpatients in the throes of depression are unable to cope with daily responsibilities. Interactionwith family and functioning at work are an omnipresent struggle. Suicidal tendencies areheightened.Unpleasant feelings that transpire for more than two weeks with any combination of two ormore of the following feelings may be an indication of depression:
► Helplessness and hopelessness
► Incorrigible bad moods
► Altered eating habits (loss of appetite or over consumption)
► Sleep disturbances – insomnia or excessive sleeping
► Exhaustion and low energy
► Negative self-esteem
► Inability to focus - difficulty making decisionsOver the centuries, the attitudes and treatments of depression have evolved.
Throughout the years, a social stigma has been associated with the disorder In the early of 18th and 19thcenturies, there were not any therapies available. The treatment of the time was a Christianbased concept of kindness and support. In certain circles, mental illnesses, such asdepression were topics unspoken of. Other victims of depression administered self-medicationfrom opium, to alcohol.
Depression Facts and Fallacies
Today, clinical trials are perpetually making new discoveries in the brain regardingthe cause and effects of depression. The content contained in this book is for informationpurposes only and should not substitute the advice of a licensed physician. Medical researchhas unfurled many of the myths and fallacies associated with the medical disorder.
Fallacy #1 - The inability to alleviate depression is indicative of a fragile person. Depression is not indicative of a weak or flawed persona. Just as heart disease, cancer and diabetes are chronic illnesses, depression is another medical ailment.
Fallacy #2- Depression is always a response to unbearable life experiences; such as, deathof a loved one, divorce or a job loss. On the contrary, depression may transpire even when life isgoing well. Although, depression maybe the outcome of negative situations, it is not always the case. Depending on the afflicted person’s genetic make-up, depression has been found to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain.
Fallacy #3 -. If a person toughs out depression, it will go away, eventually. Factually, certain individuals afflicted with depression have endured the symptoms for years. As a result, depression may not magically disappear. Treatment is necessary to lead a healthy life.
Fallacy #4 - Suicidal individuals are the only people who require antidepressants. On thecontrary, antidepressant medications are not prescribed for individuals overwhelmed bysuicidal thoughts - only. Antidepressants are designed to circumvent suicidal tendencies.Prescriptions for depression have been found to relieve hopelessness and anxiety in people whohave not considered suicide.
Fallacy #5 - Antidepressant medicines are highly addictive and may trigger personality changes.It is a misnomer that antidepressants are addictive. They are designed to make a patient feelbetter. Prescriptions diagnosed for depression do not change one’s personality; rather, theyquell a chemical imbalance that occurs in the brain.
Depression and an American Society
According to a report released by the National Institute of Mental Health, annually ten millionAmericans struggle with depression. It is a major health issue amongst four to nine percentfemales. Merely three percent of males admit to experiencing depression in their life.When depression is untreated it imposes substantial economic losses to both the afflicted and corporate America. The prevalence of the condition has been found to cost $43.7 billion. From absenteeism, direct treatment costs to the lost of productivity, the direct and indirect costs are quite exorbitant. Every year, the direct cost of treating depression is more than $12 billion US dollars.
Depression in the workplace represents production losses. These indirect costs account for annual deficits of 30 billion dollars.Did you know -- Approximately, 15 percent of doctor’s office visits are depression related or the most prevalent serious illness primary care physicians treat.Fortunately, 80 percent of people afflicted with depression maybe treated with the appropriate medication along with counseling. Alternatively, without treatment, the symptoms may be so debilitating that the lapse of depression may be prolonged anywhere from several weeks to a lifetime. Nearly 30,000 fatalities are attributed to suicide in the United States each year. The vast majority of suicides are committed by the elderly.Throughout the centuries, people from all walks of life have suffered from depression and managed to make significant contributions to our society. These renowned, celebrated individuals demonstrate that coping with depression is a definitive alternative.
Learn more, please visit www.depression-uptodate.com
