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Does This Sound Like Someone You Know?
"My family and friends noticed I wasn't "myself" anymore.
I don't enjoy the things I used to: dancing, seeing a movie, and even having sex.
Am I going to feel this way forever?"
"I had trouble sleeping. I couldn't get my work done. Even food didn't taste good anymore."
These people may be experiencing clinical depression. Most people feel great sadness at times but if sadness or a depressed mood continues for a long time, it may be a sign of clinical depression.
Clinical depression is more that feeling sad or "blue." It can make people feel worthless, hopeless or even like giving up.
The good news is that depression is an illness that can be treated. With help, the dark cloud of depression can lift - and the sun can shine again!
Types of Depression
- there are three main types.
1) Clinical or Major Depression - common but more severe
2) Dysthymia - a milder form of depression that is longer lasting
3) Bipolar disorder - includes periods of depression and periods of excessively "high" feelings
This article and the next couple will deal with "clinical depression."
If you have questions about the others you may contact Central Plains Center at 806.296.2726 or your Doctor or Mental Health America at 214.871.2420.
Who gets Clinical Depression? Each year about 1 in 10 people have major depression.
For some people, one single event, such as losing a job, leaving a relationship can bring on the illness.
For others, it could a number of events. A person can get depressed without warning and it can happen to anyone, at any age.
Many factors may contribute to clinical depression, including:
- Gender - women get depression twice as often as men
- Family history - when other people in your family have major depression, you have a higher chance of getting depression
- Certain medicines - some prescriptions or over the counter medications can make you depressed
- Difficult life events such as divorce, retirement or the death of a love one
- Presence of other illnesses such as Alzheimer's, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, hormone disorder, Parkinson's or a stroke. Also other mental disorders such as an eating or anxiety disorder
- Abuse of alcohol or drugs - people who have a drug or alcohol problem are more likely to develop major depression
Next week's article will focus on the signs of Clinical Depression. (Taken from Mental Health America of Greater Dallas)
©2008 Ron Trusler is Chief Executive Officer of Central Plains Center.
He can be reached at 806.293.2636 or at ron@clplains.org
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