Depression

When people are depressed, they find it difficult to get out of the bed in the morning, they feel poorly about themselves, have difficulty finding meaning in their daily lives, and feel tired all of the time. Depression can affect your relationships with loved ones, coworkers, friends, and family. It can make it difficult to concentrate, leading to reduced productivity at work or in the home. A person experiencing depression might feel like they have little reason to live and can become suicidal or wish they were dead. Luckily, depression is the most treatable mental health problem.

Many different modalities of psychotherapy have been discovered to help treat depression. The most commonly cited modality is called Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT, for short). Behavioral therapy is also helpful for some people, as are Psychodynamic therapy and Interpersonal therapy. Please see the link on my home page for further information on how these therapies work. The most popular form of therapy for depression is medication. The NIMH (National Institute for Mental Health: www.nimh.hih.gov) suggests that medication be used in more severe cases either preceding or along with psychotherapy. Medication can help decrease the symptoms enough so that a person can make the most of therapy, then be discontinued once the person has mastered the techniques learned in therapy.

NOTE: Always consult a doctor before you stop using your medications; many antidepressants can be harmful if they are stopped suddenly. For more information on medications commonly used for depression, visit the NIMH website: www.nimh.nih.gov.

Depression is the most common mental health disorder in the United States. In any given year, as many as 18.8 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness (Robins, LN & Regier, DA. (Eds) Psychiatric Disorders in America, The Epidemiologic Catchment Area Study, 1990; New York: The Free Press). Although nearly twice as many women as men experience depression, they are also more likely to receive treatment. Men are often taught not to cry or express sadness, which decreases their likelihood of seeking help. This could contribute to the tendency for men to experience depressive symptoms such as irritability, anger outbursts, and loss of interest in activities. Women are more likely to experience the "classic" symptoms, including feeling down or blue.