Depression and you

Depression is a psychological condition that changes how you think and feel, and also affects your social behavior and sense of physical well-being.

The term depression is often used to designate a complex pattern in deviation in feelings, cognition and behavior that is not represented as a discrete psychiatric disorder.

It can apply to a transient mood, a sustained change in mood, a symptom or a disorder.

We have all felt sad at one time or another, but that is not depression. Sometimes we feel tired from working hard, or discouraged when faced with serious problems.

This too, is not depression. These feelings usually pass within a few days or weeks, once we adjust to the stress.

But, if these feelings longer, intensify, and begin to interfere with work, school or family responsibilities, it may be depression.

The general rule is that people with depression should seek medical evaluation.

Depression may be defined in terms of the following attributes:
*A specific alteration in mood: sadness, loneliness, apathy.
*A negative self concept associated with self-reproaches and inappropriate guilt.
*Regressive and self punitive wished: desires to escape, hide or die.
*Vegetative changes: anorexia, insomnia, loss of libido.
*Change in activity level: retardation or agitation.
*Feeling of worthlessness, self reproach.

More often depression presents as an overlapping syndrome of depression, anxiety and somatization forms such as bodily aches and pain, persistent backache or genitourinary complaints.

Almost everyone experiences depression at some time in his or her life. It can be painful and it sis dangerous. Once identified, most people diagnosed with depression are successfully treated.

Unfortunately, depression is not always diagnosed, because many of the symptoms mimic physical illness, such as sleep and appetite disturbances. Recognizing depression is the first step in treating it.
Depression and you