| What causes depression? |
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| There are many possible causes of depression and
it occurs more frequently than we think. About 10-
20% of women and 5-12% of men will suffer a
major depression at some time in life. Depression
can have very serious consequences for
individuals and their families. About 15% of
severely depressed people commit suicide.
Depression is often the result of an unhappy event
such as the death of a loved one, a tragedy or
failure. A change in your life such as a divorce,
illness or job loss can lead to depression. The
tendency for depression is often inherited in
families. Often several members of the family will
experience depression. Too much stress can lead
to depression as well as the use of some drugs
such as alcohol, cocaine, and certain prescription
drugs including estrogen, birth control pills, and
cortisones. Poor nutrition, illness, diseases, and
even viruses are thought to be possible causes of
depression. In general, depression is your body?s
withdrawal from too much stress.
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How can you tell if a person is depressed?
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Depression can affect people in many different
ways. One person described depression like this:
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- Your place is a mess
- You wear dark and dumpy clothes
- You don't want to take a shower or shampoo
- You don't like your job
- You are too tired to see friends
- You can't sleep at night
- You sleep a lot during the day
- You put stuff off, and watch TV a lot
- You can't eat or you eat too much
- Nothing is happy or hopeful in your life
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| What can we do about depression? |
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Depression is treatable and the suffering it causes
can be helped. No matter what triggered a
depression, it does affect the way the brain
operates. Doctors have many new drugs that are
very effective in treating depression. It is important
to consult a professional when:
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- Pain or problems outweigh pleasures most of the time
- Symptoms are so severe that day to day functioning is difficult
- Suicide seems to be a viable option
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| It is often up to the family and friends to help. Often
the depressed person is unable to help
themselves. Try to convince the person to get
help. Help identify where to go for help and
accompany the person if necessary. Your family
doctor, clergy person or another good friend can be
good sources of information on where to get help.
Don=t give up too soon. The depressed person my
have to hear more than once and from several
people that he or she deserves to feel better and
can with proper treatment.
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