Depression Symptoms-Am I Depressed

If your reading this you're no doubt already familiar with some depression symptoms and may have experienced some of it's debilitating effects in your life, or of someone close to you. You've probably asked yourself, am I depressed? There is growing evidence that around 15% or more of the world's population suffers from, or will suffer the effects of this common illness, in one form or another, with the symptoms of depression. Odds are, you have, or are suffering some form of depression in your life, or know someone who is.

Finding information about what causes depression and it's treatment, is a first step in getting help for yourself, a friend or family member. This knowledge will help you and those close to you better understand this illness and by knowing more about depression and it's causes you will be able to get the maximum benefit from any treatment.

Depression is now a more common illness, due in part to it now being better recognized acknowledged and accepted as a real mental illness, with serious consequences, overcoming the stigma that was attached to the condition in the past. It's ok to talk about having depression now, there is no need to struggle and suffer on your own. Depression symptoms can seriously impair all aspects of a persons life, including personal relationships, work performance and also reduce the enjoyment of normal leisure activities.

It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose depression, simply because no two people will have exactly the same symptoms associated with their illness. Many depression symptoms are however, commonly seen amongst sufferers. Symptoms like:- irritability, inability to concentrate or make decisions, reduced appetite, feelings of guilt or helplessness, feelings of anxiety, loss of interest in personal appearance, constant feelings of tiredness or lack of energy, changes in weight, loss of interest in favorite activities, difficulty in sleeping-[either in falling asleep when first going to bed, or waking up during the night and being unable to get back to sleep], difficulty getting up in the morning, also some physical symptoms like headache and or backache.

That's an extensive but not conclusive list, and you may or may not suffer all or many of them at the same time, but these depression symptoms typically develop over a period of several weeks or months.

Even with the widespread acknowledgement of depression in our society, there remain many myths and misconceptions about the symptoms and causes of depression. Many people believe that depression will simply go away. While others believe if the sufferer just makes an effort to think positively, or to just go out and enjoy themselves, it will all be fine. Well, that is just a ridiculous attitude to have from ignorant people who don't understand, that depression is an illness that requires specific treatment, just like any other illness or disease does.

Depression is not, 'just feeling a bit down' nor is it 'a sign of weakness', or 'something to feel guilty about' and it's certainly not a 'punishment because you're a bad person', it does have a profound effect on your life, and is thought to be caused by an imbalance of special chemical substances in the brain, called neurotransmitters.

Our personality, or certain life events that increase stress levels, can also contribute to a depressive episode, it is an illness that can and does affect anyone at any time.

A lack of understanding can often itself lead to the person with depression feeling even more helpless and isolated, who then are even more reluctant to tell their family or friends about their condition. Sometimes people become depressed following a particularly stressful time in their life, such as the death of a close relative or friend, or after losing their job. There is also some evidence that at least some people can inherit an increased risk of becoming depressed.

I have included a depression quiz below, please take the time to answer these 8 easy questions about your depression symptoms, to help determine whether you might be a candidate for depression, or not. Like I said previously, you probably have a pretty good idea already that something isn't quite right in your life, you just wanted to make sure first before you speak to someone about it, however, this quiz isn't the be all and end all, it's just a guide, but it might shed some extra light to help convince you to seek further assistance.

These days effective treatment of depression usually requires a combination of drug therapy and some form of counseling or psychotherapy. Fortunately, a number of these interventions are available to treat depression successfully in the majority of people.

By visiting your Doctor and having your depression diagnosed, you've already taken the first step on the road to recovery. There are a large number of medications available for the treatment of depression, way too many individual ones to name here, but they can be divided into four main categories mentioned below.

They are:- # Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)

# Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)

# Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs)

# Serotonin-noradrenaline re-uptake inhibitors (SNRIs)

There is also several other classes of antidepressants as well. Don't be alarmed, your doctor will take careful consideration when selecting which combination of treatment is best for you, then you might have to try more than one course of pills to see which works best for you. Please remember that the antidepressants do not act immediately, it usually takes between four to six weeks of treatment before you'll notice any benefit, or improvement in your symptoms. In addition, you will need to continue a course of medication for four to six months or longer to make sure your recovery is complete.

Like many medications, antidepressants can come with some side effects, which affect people in different ways, some side effects include; a dry mouth, blurred vision, and altered bowel function. Tell your doctor if you experience any side effects from your medication.

For years I felt unhappy and withdrawn, I really didn't recognize that something wasn't right with the way my life was going. Depression wasn't talked about all that much years ago, and I certainly wasn't going to mention it to my friends or family, or anyone for that matter. It wasn't until a few years ago, when the enormity of how widespread the condition was, how many people were affected by it, and the number of suicides that resulted from undiagnosed depression in my community became well known, that I thought, maybe that is what's wrong with me.

I wanted to find out as much as I could about the symptoms of depression, how is it treated, did I actually have it and if so, would I recover from it. Only then did I approach my local doctor and build up the courage to speak to him about it. After that first consultation, my doctor suggested I see a psychologist for a few sessions, I was hesitant about this because I didn't want to be perceived as someone with a mental illness.

Fortunately the doctor eventually prescribed the right anti-depressant for me, it was trial and error for awhile, each different drug had a unique affect on me, not all good, but finally taking the right one had the desired results, along with psychotherapy. Building up the courage to discuss my situation with someone who was qualified to help, became easier and was an immense relief.

I'm going ok now and my life is much more focused and happier than it ever was, but I still keep a watchful eye out for that 'black dog', and for depression symptoms. Taking that first step to realizing there might be a problem, and not being afraid to seek help and discuss your situation, could make all the difference. You don't have to have this burden on your shoulders for ever you know, if you need help, get it!