SFDBSA
provides support groups for people diagnosed with
either clinical depression or bipolar disorder. The
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA), our
parent organization, reports that depression is a
treatable illness involving an imbalance of brain
chemicals called neurotransmitters. It is not a
character flaw or a sign of personal weakness. You
can’t make yourself well by trying to "snap out
of it." Although it can run in families, you
can’t catch it from someone else. The direct causes
of the illness are unclear, however it is known that
body chemistry can bring on a depressive disorder, due
to experiencing a traumatic event, hormonal changes,
altered health habits, the presence of another illness
or substance abuse.
Some
Symptoms of Depression
- Prolonged
sadness or unexplained crying spells
- Significant
changes in appetite and sleep patterns
- Irritability,
anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
- Pessimism,
indifference
- Loss
of energy, persistent lethargy
- Low
self esteem
- Feelings
of guilt, worthlessness
- Inability
to concentrate, indecisiveness
- Inability
to take pleasure in former interests, social
withdrawal
- Unexplained
aches and pains
- Sense
of impending doom or disaster
- Recurring
thoughts of death or suicide
If you or
someone you know has experienced any of these symptoms
for more than two weeks please contact your doctor or
a mental health professional.
Types
of Depression
The following information on types of clinical
depression is from DBSA:
People who have major depressive disorder have
had at least one major depressive episode – five or
more symptoms for at least a two-week period. For some
people, this disorder is recurrent, which means they
may experience episodes every so often – once a
month, once a year, or several times throughout their
lives.
Dysthymia
is a chronic, moderate type of depression. People with
dysthymia usually suffer from poor appetite or
overeating, insomnia or oversleeping, and low energy
or fatigue. People with dysthymia are often unaware
that they have an illness because their functioning is
usually not greatly impaired. They go to work and
mange their lives, but are frequently irritable and
often complaining about stress.
Key
Facts About Depression
- In
any given year depression affects up to 20 million
Americans, or 10 percent of the adult population.
- Women
are twice as likely as men to experience major
depression: One in four women, as opposed to one
in eight men, are likely to experience a mood
disorder in their lifetime.
- Two
out of three people with mood disorders do not get
proper treatment because their symptoms are not
recognized, blamed on personal weakness, or
misdiagnosed.
- When
properly treated, 80 percent of people with
clinical depression can be helped.
- People
with untreated severe depression have a
suicide rate of about 15 percent.
Treatment
- Many
SFDBSA members employ a mix of proper medication,
good therapy, and the peer support and education
offered by groups such as SFDBSA to manage their
depressive illness.
- Medication
regimes can vary widely, and many of our members
take a combination of meds to treat their
disorder.
- A
wide variety and combination of medications may be
used to treat depressive disorders. Examples
include SSRIs, or Selective Serotonin Reuptake
Inhibitors, such as Prozac, Zoloft, Paxal, Celexa,
and Lexapro or medications with different actions
such as Effexor, Wellbutrin, and Remeron. Older
medications include tricyclics, such as
desipramine or imipramine, and MAO inhibitors,
which require careful attention to dietary
restrictions. Mood stabilizers such as Lithium and
Depakote may also be employed.
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