Hi Anon - First, thanks for writing. I'm sure it took courage to write this information and to seek help. You mention being depressed, and I'm going to provide you with information about the symptoms, causes and treatment for depression. This is treatable, but you need to see a medical professional who can assess your situation, develop an accurate diagnosis, and work with you on a treatment plan.
You've listed several of the issues you're dealing with, but haven't indicated whether you've sought help from your healthcare provider which is vitally important. Please review the information below, and write back if you have questions or want more information. Let us know if you've sought treatment, or plan to. We're here to help you, you're not going to have to deal with this alone.
Take good care,
Pat
Depression Defined
Depression is not the same as a blue mood. It is a persistent low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of depression are highly variable from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many. Symptoms also vary over time.
Symptoms can change over time and may include:
* Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
* Hopelessness
* Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
* Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
* Loss of interest in sex
* Feeling tired
* Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
* Trouble sleeping, waking up too early, or oversleeping
* Eating more or less than usual
* Weight gain or weight loss
* Thoughts of death or suicide with or without suicide attempts
* Restlessness or irritability
* Physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical treatments
Causes
The precise cause of depression is not known. It is sometimes difficult to determine if something causes depression, or if it instead is a result of being depressed (ie, does substance abuse result from attempts at self-medicating for depression, or does chronic substance abuse result in depression). Examples of possible causes may be mental, physical, or environmental in nature and include:
* Stressful life events (usually in combination with one or more of the following causes)
* Chronic stress
* Low self-esteem
* Imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones
* Lack of control over circumstances (helplessness and hopelessness)
* Negative thought patterns and beliefs
* Chronic pain
* Heart disease and heart surgery
* Genetic predisposition
* Altered brain structure and function, including after a stroke
* Parkinson’s disease
* Postpartum depression occurs after childbirth
* Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression or a worsening of symptoms thought to be due to the decreased exposure to sunlight that occurs during winter months, especially in northern climates with longer winters.
* Hypothyroidism
* Anemia
* Cancer
* Substance abuse
Diagnosis
There is no blood test or diagnostic test for depression. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, giving special attention to:
* Alcohol and drug use
* Thoughts of death or suicide
* Family members who have or have had depression
* Sleep patterns
* Previous episodes of depression
The doctor may also perform a mental status examination or neuropsychiatric evaluation to obtain detailed information about your speech, thoughts, memory, and mood. Questionnaires called depression inventories may be administered. A physical examination and other diagnostic tests can help rule out other causes for your symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment usually includes medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Medicine helps relieve symptoms. Psychotherapy helps you learn more effective ways to deal with problems or to identify and resolve the conflicts contributing to your depression.
There may be a need for hospitalization in some cases of severe depression. Depression with psychotic features usually requires hospitalization and use of antipsychotic drugs, such as olanzapine.
Antidepressant Medications
Up to 70% of depressed patients find relief from their symptoms with antidepressants. These medications can take 2 to 6 weeks to reach their maximum effectiveness.
Comment Reply
Hi Anon - First, thanks for writing. I'm sure it took courage to write this information and to seek help. You mention being depressed, and I'm going to provide you with information about the symptoms, causes and treatment for depression. This is treatable, but you need to see a medical professional who can assess your situation, develop an accurate diagnosis, and work with you on a treatment plan.
You've listed several of the issues you're dealing with, but haven't indicated whether you've sought help from your healthcare provider which is vitally important. Please review the information below, and write back if you have questions or want more information. Let us know if you've sought treatment, or plan to. We're here to help you, you're not going to have to deal with this alone.
Take good care,
Pat
Depression Defined
Depression is not the same as a blue mood. It is a persistent low mood that interferes with the ability to function and appreciate things in life. It may cause a wide range of symptoms, both physical and emotional. It can last for weeks, months, or years. People with depression rarely recover without treatment.
Symptoms
Symptoms of depression are highly variable from person to person. Some people have only a few symptoms, while others have many. Symptoms also vary over time.
Symptoms can change over time and may include:
* Persistent feelings of sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
* Hopelessness
* Feeling guilty, worthless, or helpless
* Loss of interest in hobbies and activities
* Loss of interest in sex
* Feeling tired
* Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
* Trouble sleeping, waking up too early, or oversleeping
* Eating more or less than usual
* Weight gain or weight loss
* Thoughts of death or suicide with or without suicide attempts
* Restlessness or irritability
* Physical symptoms that defy standard diagnosis and do not respond well to medical treatments
Causes
The precise cause of depression is not known. It is sometimes difficult to determine if something causes depression, or if it instead is a result of being depressed (ie, does substance abuse result from attempts at self-medicating for depression, or does chronic substance abuse result in depression). Examples of possible causes may be mental, physical, or environmental in nature and include:
* Stressful life events (usually in combination with one or more of the following causes)
* Chronic stress
* Low self-esteem
* Imbalances in brain chemicals and hormones
* Lack of control over circumstances (helplessness and hopelessness)
* Negative thought patterns and beliefs
* Chronic pain
* Heart disease and heart surgery
* Genetic predisposition
* Altered brain structure and function, including after a stroke
* Parkinson’s disease
* Postpartum depression occurs after childbirth
* Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression or a worsening of symptoms thought to be due to the decreased exposure to sunlight that occurs during winter months, especially in northern climates with longer winters.
* Hypothyroidism
* Anemia
* Cancer
* Substance abuse
Diagnosis
There is no blood test or diagnostic test for depression. The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, giving special attention to:
* Alcohol and drug use
* Thoughts of death or suicide
* Family members who have or have had depression
* Sleep patterns
* Previous episodes of depression
The doctor may also perform a mental status examination or neuropsychiatric evaluation to obtain detailed information about your speech, thoughts, memory, and mood. Questionnaires called depression inventories may be administered. A physical examination and other diagnostic tests can help rule out other causes for your symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment usually includes medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. Medicine helps relieve symptoms. Psychotherapy helps you learn more effective ways to deal with problems or to identify and resolve the conflicts contributing to your depression.
There may be a need for hospitalization in some cases of severe depression. Depression with psychotic features usually requires hospitalization and use of antipsychotic drugs, such as olanzapine.
Antidepressant Medications
Up to 70% of depressed patients find relief from their symptoms with antidepressants. These medications can take 2 to 6 weeks to reach their maximum effectiveness.
November 19, 2009 - 6:59pmThis Comment
Reply