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Depression

Depression is a serious medical illness that involves the brain. It's more than just a feeling of being “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. If you are one of the more than 20 million people in the United States who have depression, the feelings do not go away. They persist and interfere with your everyday life. Symptoms can include:

  • Sadness
  • Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
  • Change in weight
  • Difficulty sleeping or oversleeping
  • Energy loss
  • Feelings of worthlessness
  • Thoughts of death or suicide

Depression can run in families, and usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. It is much more common in women. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

What treatments are available?

There are effective treatments for depression, including antidepressants and counseling. Most people do best by using both. Clinical depression does not just “go away” after a bit, but needs to be discussed with your physician.

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health