Major depression.

Major depression is a debilitating mental illness that affects nearly 9.9 million adults in the United States in any given year. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness at http://www.nami.org/, major depression is diagnosed after more than one of these symptoms such as, difficulty sleeping, sadness, irritability, agitation, or thoughts of hopelessness or suicide occur at the same time, persist for over two weeks, and interfere with normal activities (work, social outings, activities of daily living). Other physical symptoms may occur as well, like nausea, abdominal pain, or headaches. Mental health professionals, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists can help those that are suffering from major depression; there are new medications and treatments being prescribed that are proving to be very effective in treating symptoms of major depression.

The causes of major depression

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of major depression. A genetic link is also quite common, but just because there is a genetic predisposition doesn’t mean that the condition will develop. Also, current psychological stressors combined with biological and environmental factors play a huge part. Chemical imbalances that occur between the neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are thought to be one of the causes of major depression. Antidepressant medications make more of these neurotransmitters available to correct the imbalance and alleviate symptoms. There are different classes of antidepressants that work differently; the oldest group is the tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil, which is still prescribed for more severe cases, and the newest is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work quite well and are better tolerated than tricyclics or another older medication, like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Psychotherapy is another effective treatment that is most often used in combination with prescribed medications for major depression. If symptoms persist and response to medications is inadequate, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be recommended. You may be having visions of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. It’s not like that at all, and many patients respond quite well when other types of treatment have failed. Major depression doesn’t have to be a debilitating mental illness. There are many resources available to help patients learn about and live with major depression, including mental health professionals, online information sites, and support groups. Seeking help is the first step in conquering mental illness, and adhering to prescribed treatment plans and communicating with mental health professionals is the second. It is possible to live a normal life and overcome major depression; it takes just one step – ask for help.     

Major Depression

I got a call from a friend a few weeks ago. She found out she was pregnant, and she was pretty sure she didn’t want to be.  She is happily married to a wonderful man, but the question of having children has always haunted her. She was pretty sure she would make a lousy mother, and now, she has to find out. She has a lot of fears, and most of her friends have abandoned her because they don’t understand why she is so undecided about a child already growing inside of her. She will have her baby, but she doesn’t know how she is going to handle it. The other day I got a message from her, telling me I was all she had left in the way of friends, and that she has sunk into a major depression over the entire affair.

This story is not uncommon. It doesn’t have to be about pregnancy, it can be about anything. My friend has had bouts of depression her whole life, but this is the first bout of major depression she has had to face. She’s not leaving her house for anything other than work, and she is not really speaking to anyone. She’s trying, but this major depression has gotten the best of her. She’s a strong woman, but sometimes, that has little to do with the real situation.

There is a difference between major depression and situational depression, though I think she has both at the moment. Some people get depressed and it only lasts a few weeks and they are right as rain again. This is situational depression, and it usually clears up on its own. Major depression, on the other hand, lingers for quite a while, and is not always related to an event. If not dealt with, major depression can lead to suicide in some people.

If you think you are suffering from major depression, and it is affecting your life, you need to get to a doctor right away. The choice to take medications is up to you, but know that is not your only option. A qualified therapist may help you sort through your feelings, and give you exercises that may help you to life the fog from your mind and take the edge off of major depression. The important thing is that you do something. Take all of our options into consideration, but make sure you know that you are not alone, and that there is help out there for you. Just taking the first step towards finding help for major depression can bring about hope for a happier tomorrow.