90.3 WCPN: HealthWatch May 2005

May 2005

Depression

“One of the challenges for those who are clinically depressed is just believing that they can get better,”
according to Paul Moravec, Pulitzer Prize winning composer and long-time major depression sufferer. [Source: San Francisco Chronicle (March 22, 2005)]

Image courtesy of The Cleveland Museum of Art
Vincent van Gogh, Dutch, 1853-1890.
Poplars at Saint-Rémy, 1889. Oil on fabric,
61.6 x 45.7 cm.© The Cleveland Museum of Art, Bequest of Leonard C. Hanna Jr., 1958.32

In any given one-year period, 9.5%, or about 18.8 million American adults suffer from a depressive illness. It effects about twice as many women as men. However, men are less likely to admit depression and the rate of suicide for men is four times that of women. Depression in children is also a growing concern.

Depression can be devastating - it robs one of hope, energy and sometimes, even the will to live. This feeling is captured in the following first-hand description:

It takes the greatest effort to get out of bed in the morning. I am tired all day, yet when night comes, sleep evades me. I stare at the ceiling, wondering what has happened to my life. My wife does not understand. She keeps telling me to “snap out of it.” There are times, when I’m alone, that I think that life is hopeless and meaningless.

The good news is that Depression is highly treatable. Below are four steps that can help:

1. Look for signs of Depression. You might be depressed if you are experiencing:

Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, pessimism
Loss of interest or pleasure in your usual activities
Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
Reoccurring thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Restlessness, irritability

2. Understand that Depression is a real illness. There is a stigma associated with Depression that can prevent those who suffer from seeking help. Depression is not a passing “blue” mood or a sign of personal weakness. It cannot be willed away and those who suffer cannot just “pull themselves together.”

3. See your doctor. Get a check-up and talk about how you are feeling
This is the first step. There are other medical conditions that can cause the same symptoms.

4. Get treatment for your Depression. You can feel better.

Sources: National Institute of Mental Health, Psychology Information Online: Major Depression

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