What is depression?
Anyone, regardless of age, race, gender, or socioeconomic status, can suffer from depression. Depression influences your attitude toward yourself, others, and life in general. It takes away your feelings of well being. Depression changes the way you think and how you behave.
Depression is often a misunderstood or unrecognized problem. It is not a weakness or a personality flaw. It isn't anxiety or worry about an important test or problems at work, and it's not just a day or two of being moody or having the blues. Depression is a real medical condition that affects millions of people every year.
What causes depression?
There are many reasons why a person might become depressed, including traumatic life experiences such as the death of a loved one, substance abuse, certain medications or diseases, hormonal changes, or a family history of depresssion. Sometimes the reason a person experiences depression is unknown.
Whatever the circumstances, depression is caused by an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. Normally, these chemical help nerve cells communicate with one another by sending and receiving messages. These "chemical messengers" help influence a person's mood. In the case of depression, the available supply of the chemical messengers is low, so the nerve cells can't communicate effectively. This often results in symptoms of depression such as sad mood, fatigue, or lack of pleasure.
It is important to remember that depression is a medical condition like any other. And, just as there are treatments for conditions like diabetes or hypertension, there are treatment options available for depression too.
Disclaimer: This information is not intended be a substitute for professional medical advice. It is provided for educational purposes only. You assume full responsibility for how you choose to use this information.
* Resources available for more information about depression, you may contact the following organizations:
National Mental Health Association
1-800-969-NMHA(6642)
National Institute of Mental Health
1-800-421-4211
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
1-800-950-NAMI(6264)