Depression Means More than Just Having the Blues

Now and then, each of us gets the blues or feels sad and down. We normally experience mood swings ranging from feeling content and happy to feeling dissatisfied and restless. Some of these normal mood changes are usually due to the lives we lead. When things are going our way, for instance, we feel good. But when things go awry, we feel bad, apprehensive, and unsure of ourselves.

On the other hand, those who suffer from depression experience feelings of dejection, despondency, uselessness, and culpableness that go beyond the limits of what's happening in their lives. Such an adverse state of mind can infringe on every phase of their being. As a result, positive occurrences will not raise their spirits, good news will not comfort them, and nothing - not even a generous amount of praise - will make them feel better.

Several factors can cause depression. These include psychological problems, chronic pain from certain physical illnesses, or the taking of certain medications to deal with biochemical imbalances in the brain.

People suffering from depression generally don't believe they are worthy of life's many good things; they think they have very little or no hope at all of ever attaining a state of contentment and well-being. Consequently, they no longer appreciate life's significance and, worse, may even contemplate on committing suicide. As a matter of fact, the highest incidence of suicide occurs in people whose depression is accompanied by a pervasive feeling of desperation and a loss of inclination or interest in active pursuits. Further, depression sufferers usually undergo considerable alterations in sleep patterns, sexual drive, focus, and their relations or dealings with family and friends.

Depression, along with mania, is the second most common form of affective disorder. Fortunately, depression is also among mental illnesses that are most responsive to treatment. It usually manifests improvement within a month or so of treatment.

Most of the serious cases of depression, even if left untreated, usually vanish by themselves in about a year, with half of those affected not experiencing a recurrence. Still, a significant ratio of people who suffer serious depression commit suicide. Depressed people who are single, older, widowed, or divorced, and especially those who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, are at higher risk of committing suicide. Homeless people are likewise more serious suicide risks than others. Sufficient psychiatric treatment can be helpful in reducing the risk of suicide in people who suffer from depression. [Read the Original Article]