Depression Treatment Care

Depression is a word sometimes used to describe the usual sad and upset feelings people have when things go wrong in their every day lives. It is also the word used to describe a serious mental illness involving deep sadness and despair, feelings of hopelessness, and accompanying physical symptoms. This kind of depression is called Clinical Depression. Clinical Depression affects about 10 percent of adults each year.

Clinical, or major depression, is the world’s number one mental disorder, the second most disabling health condition in the world behind heart disease. And it’s growing at an alarming rate. Clinical depression is an illness that affects your whole life. It permeates your mind, body, mood and thoughts. Clinical depression disrupts your daily activities, affects sleeping and eating patterns, and diminishes your enjoyment of life.

What Causes Clinical Depression?

Clinical Depression tends to run in families. It can be triggered by a life crisis, such as the death of someone close, a major life change, such as childbirth, an illness or a serious accident. Clinical Depression may also occur without any obvious cause.

Clinical Depression is believed to be associated with a chemical imbalance in the brain. A chemical messenger, or neurotransmitter, called serotonin is involved. Over 80 percent of people with Clinical Depression can be helped by treatment and return to their normal life activities.

Symptoms of Clinical Depression

The signs and symptoms of clinical depression vary for each sufferer. Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience a few symptoms, some many. The severity of symptoms can also vary from one individual to the next. But if you or someone you love is experiencing any or all of the following symptoms, you should seek help from a health care professional.

• Persistent sadness and anxiety
• Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
• Loss of interest in daily activities
• Loss of interest in sex
• Fatigue
• Difficulty concentrating and remembering things
• Changes in sleep patterns
• Changes in appetite
• Suicidal thoughts
• Restlessness, irritability
• Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (e.g. headaches and digestive disorders)