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.