Useful Links

www.mentalhealthireland.ie

www.schizophreniaireland.ie

www.bbc.co.uk/health/

mental/help_orgs.shtml

Depression

Depression is not just "feeling blue" or "down in the dumps." It is more like being sad or feeling grief after a loss. Depression is a medical disorder (just like diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease are medical disorders) that day after day affects your thoughts, feelings, physical health and behaviours. Depression may be caused by the following things, including:

• Family history and genetics

• Other general medical illnesses

• Certain medicines

• Drugs or alcohol

• Other psychiatric conditions

Certain life conditions (such as extreme grief or stress) may bring on a depression. In some people, depression occurs even when life is going well. Depression in not your fault. It is not a weakness. Depression is treatable.

What is depression?

People who have major depressive disorder have a number of symptoms nearly every day, all day, for at least 2 weeks.

These always include at least one of the following:
• Loss of interest in things you used to enjoy

• Feeling sad, blue, or down in the dumps

You may also have at least three of the following
• Feeling slowed down or restless and unable to sit still

• Feeling worthless or guilty

• Increase or decrease in appetite or weight

• Thoughts of death or suicide

• Problems concentrating, thinking, remembering , or making decisions

• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much

• Loss of energy or feeling tired all of the time

With depression, there are often other physical or psychological symptoms, including:
• Headaches

• Other aches and pains

• Digestive problems

• Sexual problems

• Feeling pessimistic or hopeless

• Being anxious or worried

What should I do if I have these symptoms?

Too often people do not get help for their depression because they do not recognise the symptoms, have trouble asking for help, blame themselves, or don't know that treatments are available.

Family practitioners, clinics, or health maintenance organizations are often the first places that people go for help. These health care providers will:
• Find out if there is a physical cause for your depression

• Treat the depression

• Refer you to a mental health specialist for further evaluation and treatment.

If you do not have a regular health care provider, contact your local health department, community mental health clinic, or hospital. University medical centres also provide treatment for depression.

How will treatment help me?

Treatment reduces the pain and suffering of depression. Successful treatment removes all of the symptoms of depression and returns you to your normal life. The earlier you get treatment for your depression, the sooner you will begin to feel better. As with other medical illnesses, the longer you have the depression before you seek treatment, the more difficult it can be to treat.

Most people who are treated for depression feel better and return to daily activities in several weeks. Because it takes several weeks for treatment to work fully, it is important to get treatment early before your depression gets worse.

As with any medical condition, you may have to try one or more treatments before finding the best one. It is important not to get discouraged if the first treatment does not work. In almost every case, there is a treatment for the depression that will work for you.