by Melissa Nykorchuk

Created on: December 08, 2008   Last Updated: August 12, 2010

Clinical depression is recognized more than ever before as an illness that affects more than 20% of the population at one time or another.  Feelings that go along with depression include hopelessness, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, lack of energy, sleeping too much or an inability to sleep.  Clinical depression is different from sadness due to a life changing event such as divorce or death, both of which can cause some or all of the above symptoms.  If symptoms last for more than several weeks it is time to seek help from a professional.

Learning how to cope with stressful situations in a productive manner is conducive to managing a tendency towards depression.  A positive outlook can be helpful when symptoms of depression begin to start and can help one battle with the often debilitating side effects of depression.

 Withdrawal from Others is Counter-Productive

When a person starts to feel depressed, they often withdraw from friends and family.  This isolation causes an increased sense of worthlessness and loss of interest in activities.  To get help for depression it is important to reach out to friends and family who are supportive and loving.  It isn’t necessary for a depressed person to share with everyone their depression, but staying busy and keeping connections with others alive will help keep depression symptoms at bay.

Seek Medical Help if Symptoms Persist

Feeling down because of a life changing event is one thing.  Feeling down for several weeks or more without any definitive reason is enough to seek medical help to rule out clinical depression.  There are levels of depression and even low grade depression can wreak havoc on the daily routine of a person suffering from it.

While Seeking Medical Care, Consider Self Care Options Too

Depression can be described as a lack of the right chemicals in the brain.  When serotonin levels are low, depressive symptoms arise in most people.  Although many medications such as paxil, celexa, wellbutrin and prozac work to raise serotonin levels, some behavioral changes may result in increased serotonin production as well.

SSRI medications, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, work by preventing the existing serotonin in the brain from leaving.  This increases the amount of serotonin in the brain over time.

Dietary changes that can increase serotonin levels include eating a complex carbohydrate snack before bed. 

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