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What is depression?
What causes depression?
What are the signs of depression?
How is depression treated?
How can I get help for my depression?
See also...
Depression is an illness that affects the body, mood, and thoughts. About twice as many women suffer from depression as men. People who are depressed may feel hopeless, worthless, very sad, and have no energy or interest in doing anything. Some people describe depression as an "empty, or sad feeling that won't go away." This kind of depression that does not go away is called "clinical depression." It is different from feeling "blue" or down for a few hours or a couple of days.
Many things cause depression. Depression can run in families. Changes in your brain chemistry and living through painful and difficult events in your life can cause depression. Sometimes depression is caused by certain medications people take for cancer, arthritis, heart problems, and high blood pressure. Some illnesses such as Parkinson's disease, stroke, and hormonal problems can cause depression.
Here is a list of the most common signs of depression. If you have some of these signs that last for more than two weeks, see your health care provider.
Feeling empty, sad, and anxious
Feeling tired, having no energy
Feeling restless and irritable a lot of the time
Crying more than usual
Feeling worthless, helpless, hopeless, and guilty
Having no interest or joy in life
Having trouble sleeping, waking up very early in the morning
Having problems eating too much or too little food
Thinking about suicide and death
Having trouble concentrating, remembering, and making decisions
Having physical problems that don't go away when you take medicine, such as headaches, stomach problems, and pains in your body
Most people with depression get better when they get treatment. The two most common treatments for depression are medication and psychotherapy (talking with a trained counselor). Support groups can help. Sometimes just one treatment is used and sometimes a person takes medicine and sees a psychotherapist. Health care providers may need to try different medicines to find the one(s) that help you the most. It also may take a few weeks or months on the medicine before you begin to feel a change in your mood and outlook.
Here are ways to get help for your depression.
Talk to your health care provider about how you are feeling. Get a checkup to see if there are physical problems or medicines that are causing your depression. Your health care provider can help you get the treatment you need.
Talk to a family member, friend, or religious leader you trust and who can help you find someone to treat your depression.
Get more information about depression by using the resources listed below.
Depression is not something you can just snap out of and feel better. Depression is a serious illness that needs to be treated. It's not your fault that you are depressed, and you can get better.
You can find out more about depression by contacting the National Women's Health Information Center at (800) 994-9662 or the following organizations:
National Institute of Mental Health
Phone Number(s) : (800) 421-4211
Internet Address : http://www.nimh.nih.gov
National Foundation for Depressive Illness, Inc.
Phone Number(s): (800) 239-1265
Internet Address: http://www.depression.org
National Depressive and Manic Depressive Association
Phone Number(s): (800) 826-3632
Internet Address: http://www.ndmda.org
All material contained in the FAQs is free of copyright restrictions, and may be copied, reproduced, or duplicated without permission of the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services; citation of the sources is appreciated.
This FAQ has been reviewed by Victoria Hendrick, M.D., of the
University of California, Los Angeles.
August 2002
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