Especially when dealing with depression, it bears repeating! None of the information listed anywhere on WAHMSpa should be taken as medical advice. If you feel you have a medical problem you need to seek help from a medical professional in your local area that specializes in your particular need. Please Remember: Before starting any program, making changes in your eating habits or medications you currently take ... consult your physician.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) depression effects more than 17 million American adults each year. That is more than cancer, AIDS, or coronary heart disease. An estimated 15% of chronic depression cases end in suicide. Women are twice as likely as men to be affected. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), 80 to 90 percent of all cases can be treated effectively. Two-thirds of the people suffering from depression don't get the help they need, according to NIMH. Many fail to identify their symptoms or attribute them to lack of sleep or a poor diet, the APA says, while others are just too fatigued or ashamed to seek help.
Many people simply don't know what depression is. "A lot of people still believe that depression is a character flaw or caused by bad parenting," says Mary Rappaport, a spokeswoman for the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. She explains that depression cannot be overcome by willpower, but requires medical attention.
Fortunately, depression is treatable, says Thomas Laughren, M.D., team leader for psychiatric drug products in FDA's division of neuropharmacological drug products. In the past 13 years, the Food and Drug Administration has approved many new antidepressants, including Wellbutrin (bupropion), Prozac (fluoxetine), Zoloft (sertraline), Paxil (paroxetine), Effexor (venlafaxine), Serzone (nefazodone), and Remeron (mirtazapine).
Symptoms
They Mayo Clinic has an excellent section on the subject of depression that can give a good background on the subject. The list of symptoms they give are listed here.
What's the Alternative?
In cases of severe or chronic depression there is no question that drug therapy may be necessary and beneficial. However, many feel that the most effective method for dealing with the onset of depression is an overall wellness plan, including proper physical fitness and stress reduction.
Most experts agree that depression is actually a "brain chemistry disorder" that can be treated by returning the brain chemistry to "normal" levels. When using the just a pharmacological approach (drug treatment) the root causes can be overlooked. This may be a good time to mention that many people use alcohol; OTC drugs (or even illegal drugs) to self medicate their depression. While the short-term effects may seem to be helpful it is the most destructive path and must be stopped immediately.
Research has shown that stress reduction, proper nutrition and physical exercise can help return altered brain chemistry to normal levels with no additional drug based treatment. This approach is usually most effective when monitored by a medical professional that has a practice that has shown positive results in this area. Ask about and follow-up on references and local resources that track physician coimplaints.
