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Health Tips

Got The Blues? You Might Be Depressed.

Many people who suffer from depression don’t know they have a treatable
illness. At any given time, approximately five percent of Americans
suffer from major depression. But many fail to recognize the symptoms of
their illness, believing that are simply due to events in their lives,
day-to-day stresses or even normal aging.

“There are nine classic symptoms of depression,” explains Ed Mehollin, Program Director at Solutions Psychiatric Center at Delta Regional Medical Center. “If you experience at least five of those during the same two week period, you
may have a treatable depression,” Concludes Mehollin.

Frazier recommends that you see your doctor as soon as possible if you
recognize at least five of the following symptoms in yourself or a
family member:

1.Depressed mood for most of the day.

2.Change in appetite and weight-either eating much more or much less.

3.Disruption of normal sleep routine- either inability to fall asleep or
sleeping much more than usual.

4.Feelings of physical agitation.

5.Lack of interest in favorite activities, such as sports or hobbies.

6.General lack of energy.

7.Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness or helplessness.

8.Difficulty concentrating or thinking clearly.

9.Morbid or suicidal thoughts, or attempting suicide.

Depression can strike anyone, at any age, but the average age of onset,
when the symptoms actually begin, is the mid twenties.

“It affects people of all ages, races, cultures, classes and ethnic
groups,” says Meholin. It’s a recurrent condition; persons who have a
single episode of depression have at least a fifty percent chance of
experiencing another episode at some point in their lives.”

Studies show that women are more than twice as likely as men to suffer
from depression. According to current estimates, more than one-fourth of
women suffer from depression at some point in their lives, as compared
with twelve percent of men.

“Older people are also at higher risk of experiencing depression,”
states Mehollin. “This is often due to health problems or psychological
stresses, or someone who has lost a loved one, divorce, etc.”

While people of any age may have thoughts of suicide as a result of
depression, research shows that older white males are most at risk of
suicide.

“Depression is a serious illness, but it is and can be treated,”
explains Mehollin. “Medications combined with therapy can help alleviate
the symptoms and allow people to return to normal, active, productive
lives. The number and types of medications and therapy we have for
treating depression have increased dramatically over the past ten years.
And as awareness grows that depression is a treatable condition, more
people are seeking treatment.”

For more information about depression, contact your primary care doctor.

This healthcare message brought to you courtesy of Solutions Psychiatric
Center at Delta Regional Medical Center.