by A.E. Derby

Created on: December 29, 2006   Last Updated: May 16, 2007

Despite the many myths surrounding depression, depression is an illness, and it is one which many people feel ashamed to admit they have, let alone get help for. A lot of people with depression feel guilty much of the time, because their depression affects their families and friends, and because they generally begin to feel so bad about themselves that they feel like they are failures to the people around them. If you suspect you have depression, or if you believe someone close to you is depressed, it is important to seek professional help as well as enlist support from the people involved in your daily life. Depression is nothing to be ashamed of, but it is something to be dealt with, as it can have long-term bad effects on your physical health, as well as on your mental health.

There are varying degrees of depression, ranging from seasonal depression (sometimes referred to as SAD - or, seasonal affective disorder - or the "winter blues") to chronic depression. People with chronic depression often have trouble doing ordinary tasks, like getting out of bed in the morning or showering. People with moderate depression may be able to function (i.e., go to work, pay the bills, take care of the kids), but they may often find themselves feeling "down" and not having much inspiration to do things like getting together with friends or even having sex. Depression varies from person to person, and while there are common symptoms of depression, not all criteria may apply to every person. If you think you are depressed, it is important to seek out treatment options.

Treatment options for depression range from psychiatric drugs, to behavioral/cognitive therapy, to light therapy (for people with seasonal depression). Often times, mild to moderate depression can be helped by changing ones diet, exercising more, spending time outside, and/or talking with friends. However, there are more severe cases which call for the depressed person to enlist the help of a professional, including cases where the depressed person has trouble functioning, or in the case of suicidal thoughts.

If you or someone close to you is having suicidal thoughts, it is important to seek help immediately. If your teenage child is exhibiting signs of depression, do not assume that he or she is just trying to get attention. If your teenager makes remarks like "I wish I was never born," or "I just wish I would not wake up tomorrow," then that is something to take seriously. Please seek professional help, as left untreated, depression can lead to suicide attempts that could otherwise be prevented by seeking help.

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