What is Depression?

Most people have felt sad or depressed at times. Feeling depressed can be a normal reaction to loss, life's struggles, or an injured self-esteem.  But when feelings of intense sadness -- including feeling helpless, hopeless, and worthless -- last for days to weeks and keep you from functioning normally, your depression may be something more than sadness. It may very well be clinical depression.

Depression is a very common, yet highly treatable, medical illness that can affect everyone.  About 1 out of every 20 Americans get depressed every year.  Today, over 15 million people are struggling with depression in this country. Depression is not a character flaw, nor is it a sign of personal weakness.  Depression is a treatable medical illness in which most people can begin to feel better in several weeks when they are adequately treated.

Clinical depression occurs when you have at least five of the following nine symptoms at the same time for a 2 week period or longer:

•    Feeling sad, blue, or down in the dumps, during most of the day, particularly in the morning

•    Loss of energy or feeling tired all the time

•    feelings of worthlessness or guilt almost every day

•    Having problems concentrating, thinking, remembering, or making decisions

•    Having trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

•    loss of interest in things you usually enjoy

•    recurring thoughts of death or suicide (not just fearing death)

•    feeling slowed down or restless

•    having a significant change in appetite or weight loss or gain (a change of more than 5% of body weight in a month)

Can children experience depression?

Yes, childhood depression is different from the normal "blues" and everyday emotions that occur as a child develops. If your child is sad, this does not necessarily mean he or she has significant depression. It's when the sadness becomes persistent -- day after day -- that depression may be an issue. Or, if your child has disruptive behavior that interferes with normal social activities, interests, schoolwork, or family life, it may indicate that he or she has a depressive illness. Keep in mind that while depression is a serious illness, it is also a treatable one.

Can teenagers experience depression?

Yes, it is common for teens to occasionally feel unhappy. However, when the unhappiness lasts for more than two weeks and the teen experiences other symptoms of depression, then he or she may be suffering from adolescent depression. Because as many as one in every 33 children and one in eight adolescents suffer with depression, talk to your doctor and find out if your teen may be depressed. There is effective treatment available to help teens move beyond depression as they grow older.

Are there different types of depression?

There are a number of different types of depression including:

•    major depression

•    chronic depression (dysthymia)

•    bipolar depression

•    seasonal depression (SAD or seasonal affective disorder)

•    psychotic depression

•    postpartum depression

Are there other types of depression?

Other types of depression that can occur include:

•    double depression -- a condition that happens when a person with chronic depression (dysthymia) experiences an episode of major depression

•    secondary depression -- a depression that develops after the development of a medical condition such as hypothyroidism, stroke, Parkinson's disease, or AIDS, or after a psychiatric problem such as schizophrenia, panic disorder, or bulimia

•    chronic treatment-resistant depression -- a condition that lasts over a year and is extremely difficult to treat with antidepressants and other psychopharmacologic drugs and psychotherapies

•    masked depression -- a depression that is hidden behind physical complaints for which no organic cause can be found.

Can depression occur with other mental illnesses?

Depression commonly occurs with other illnesses such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, phobias, and eating disorders.  Brain injury also increases a person’s chance of experiencing depression.  If you or a loved one has symptoms of depression and/or these other mental illnesses, talk to your doctor. Treatment is available to lift the depression so you or a loved one can regain your meaningful life.

Can depression have physical symptoms?

Because certain brain chemicals or neurotransmitters influence both mood and pain, it's not uncommon for depressed individuals to have physical symptoms. These symptoms may include joint pain, back pain, gastrointestinal problems, sleep disturbances, and appetite changes. The symptoms may also be accompanied by slowed speech and physical retardation. Many patients go from doctor to doctor seeking treatment for their physical symptoms when, in fact, they are clinically depressed.