Depression is an illness in the same way as heart disease is an illness, and depression often affects the whole body, not just the mind. Depression is the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse, and other similar addictions. It is an "equal opportunity illness" in that it can affect all races, all classes, all ages, and all genders,; however, women seem to suffer from depression twice as much as men do. At least half of those who suffer from depression do not receive proper treatment and untreated depression is second to heart disease in causing lost work days in America. To be diagnosed wit depression, you must have experienced at least four of the following symptoms for at least two weeks: loss of energy, poor appetite or significant weight loss or increased appetite or significant weight gain (exclusive of other medical conditions), insomnia or excessive sleeping, slowness or agitation, loss if interest, pleasure in normal activities or decrease in sexual drive, feelings of worthlessness and self-reproach or excessive guilt, inability to concentrate or indecisiveness, and recurrent thoughts of death or wishes to be dead or suicidal attempts, crying for no reasons or perhaps the inability to cry even when feeling tearful. In additions, one-third of depressed people suffer from anxiety attacks that generally ease when the depression eases. An anxiety attack of intense fear for no apparent reason is a symptom of depression and it can includes other signs such as heart palpitations, dizziness, sweating, chest pains, and shortness of breath. People often feel guilty about being depressed and they believe they should be punished for their imagined mistakes or failures.

It is most important to determine between true depression and the feelings of simply being sad, as in being in a sad mood. The latter can usually be relieved by something good or exciting happening while true depression could remain even if something good happened to a person. Depression usually results in feelings of being hopeless and those who go untreated, retreat even further into more hopelessness over their lives. They feel that nothing can occur which will make them happy again, and they believe that things will only get worse, and never better. In severe cases, persons may not get out of bed during the day, they lose the ability or desire to eat or talk to others, and they retreat into their own world of depression. Studies have shown that 3 to 16 % of teenagers report symptoms that are indicative of depression and rates of depression are higher among older teenagers than younger ones. Depression affects all people including Queen Elizabeth I, President Abraham Lincoln, and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Tipper Gore, the wife of Vice President Al Gore . Even infants can suffer from 'reactive attachment disorder" when the baby lacks the attention or nurturing from the mother and they do not show responses to stimuli such as following objects with their eyes. Other reasons for depression include the effects of anesthetics used during surgery, the pain medications used for chronic or severe pain, fear of failure, social rejection, bodily sickness, abuse, childhood memories, thoughts of a better life, separation with family, worries about the future, the death of a family member or other loved one, including the family pet, alcohol and substance abuse, work failures, low self-esteem, and unperfection.

Besides medical intervention involving medications and even hospitalization, the depressed person needs to learn coping strategies. Some of these types of coping mechanisms include dealing with feelings of emptiness and sadness. If you feel sad and alone, then try to find something that may relax you while you are alone rather than concentrating on something difficult. This relaxation may be something as simple but needful as napping, but rest is important in replenishing your energy levels. If others make you feel bad, then try not to be around them or be aware of your own moods around those people. Sometimes you must learn to say: " no." Realize that depression is not something that you should be ashamed of having and it is not simply feeling "blue" or "down." It is not a character flaw nor is it a mood that someone can snap out of, but it is something for which the person must have medical help. Learning to talk to your doctor so that he or she understands that you are really depressed and not just feeling down is critical. The sooner you get help, then the sooner you can learn to ease your depression and start feeling better about you and your life!

A Patient Handbook Chronic Pain Management Program

Major depression, also known as clinical depression or unipolar depression, is classified as a type of affective disorder or mood disorder that goes beyond the day's ordinary ups and downs, becoming a serious medical condition and important health concern in this country.

The onset of depression is occurring earlier in life than in previous years, with women nearly twice as likely than men to develop major depression.

For a diagnosis of major depression to be made an individual must exhibit five or more of these symptoms during the same two-week period. The symptoms of major depression may resemble other psychiatric conditions. Consult a physician for diagnosis.