Everyone has 'bad' days, but what about when being sad doesn't go away? The following list should help one to recognize when something is not right.
* Low self esteem
* Withdrawal from friends and family
* Lack of appetite or increased appetite
* Sleep disturbance: sleeping too much or not enough
* Loss of interest in activities and interests previously enjoyed
* Hopelessness
* Thoughts of death or suicide
* A feeling of worthlessness
* Slowed thinking or acting
* Fatigue
* Loss of interest in sex
These are symptoms of clinical depression, which is, according to the National Alliance on the Mentally Ill (NAMI), the most common mood disorder, striking about 22 million Americans at any given point in time. It is so prevalent that it has been termed the “common cold” of mental health disorders.
A Disorder That Doesn't Discriminate
Depression is characterized by persistent negative moods and an inability to experience pleasure. If one is diagnosed with depression, he or she is in good company. According to the National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression (NARSAD), many celebrities and famous figures from history have suffered from depression including Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, Michelangelo, comedians Jim Carrey and Drew Carey, Janet Jackson, and Mike Wallace of “60 Minutes”.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, there are two main types of depression. When the symptoms are severe, persistent and interfere with a person’s ability to function day-to-day, the diagnosis is known as major depressive disorder.
When the symptoms are mild but persistent the diagnosis is known as dysthymia. Dysthymia, when left untreated, can last up to 10 years.
Bipolar Disorder: The Flip Side of Depression
The flip side of depression is knownas mania. People with depression and mania have what is known as bipolar disorder. According to NAMI, those suffering from mania exhibit an excessively elated, active emotional state. The symptoms are often the opposite of depression.
Someone experiencing mania may have unusually high levels of energy, need little sleep and havei ncreased appetites for food, alcohol, and sex. They often spend money foolishly. Most manic patients describe their thoughts as racing. Many speak rapidly, and move from one activity to the next with great optimism and self-confidence.
Mental Illness: A Growing Concern for All Nations
Mental illness in general is a worldwide epidemic. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) In the United States, Canada, and Europe, 4 of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental health disorders, with depression most common. By 2020, WHO estimates that depression will be the most common disability among women, surpassing heart disease. Time magazine estimates mental illness costs the United States 193 billion dollars in lost productivity every year.
Treatment for Depression and Bipolar Disorder
Fortunately, depression and bipolar disorder are highly treatable. According to NIMH, medication such as Paxil and Prozac combined with talk therapy helps 80 to 90 percent of all victims achieve complete recovery. There are also natural strategie that help alleviate depression including change in diet, exercise, and meditation.
Anti-depressant drugs are thought to relieve depression by increasing neurotransmitters (chemicals that are involved in carrying signals between brain cells), while talk therapy with a licensed therapist helps to change a patient’s negative thought patterns. Bipolar patients are helped with a class of drugs known as “mood stabilizers” which include lithium and depakote.
By choosing to seek treatment from a doctor or a hospital, sufferers have shown the courage to overcome mental illness stigma that is so prevalent in society and take the first step toward discovery. You can help in the global fight against mental illness by encouraging others to seek help when you recognize they have symptom of depression or mania.
Further Help
Mental Health America offers a self-diagnostic test for depression at www.depression-screening.org. but it should only serve as basic screening and not take the place of an evaluation and diagnosis by a competent psychiatric professional.
Sources:
National Alliance on the Mentally Ill, "What Is Depression?," accessed 09/23/2010
National Institute on Mental Illness, Depression Booklet (in my possession)
World Health Organization, "What Is Depression?," accessed 09/28/2010
National Association for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, "Decade Of Brain and Behavior Research," accessed 09/23/2010
John Fixmer - My name is John Fixmer and I currently work at a large health complex north of Miami, Florida. My background is in psychology and ...
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