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Depression – A serious Menace to your life
Life is package of good times and bad, happiness and sorrow. But if you have been feeling "down" for more than a few weeks or are having trouble functioning in daily life, you may be experiencing more than just the "blues"....

Distribution Source : Finegenerics
Date : Thursday, January 05, 2006

Life is package of good times and bad, happiness and sorrow. But if you have been feeling "down" for more than a few weeks or are having trouble functioning in daily life, you may be experiencing more than just the "blues." You may be suffering from a general yet serious medical disease called clinical depression.

Depression is very common and affects as many as one in eight people in their teen years. It is not something you can just "snap out of." It's caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, along with other factors. It affects people of every color, race, economic status, or age; however, it does seem to affect more females than males during adolescence and adulthood. Facts can translate to 6.7 million women and 3.2 million men. Each year over 17 million adults experience a period of clinical depression. The cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. It is the most common serious brain disease.

Depression Facts

• Major depressive disorder is the most important cause of disability and established market economies worldwide.

• Persons who seem to be most likely to experience depression are married women, women in poverty, adolescents, and unmarried men.

• Up to 20% of people experience symptoms of depression.

• 10 times more people suffer from major depression now than in 1945

• The average age of first onset of major depression is 25-29

• Up to 80% of suicide deaths are in sufferers of major depression.

• More than 90 percent of people who kill themselves have a diagnosable mental disorder, commonly a depressive disorder or a substance abuse disorder.

• Depressive disorders often co-occur with anxiety disorders and substance abuse.

Symptoms of Depression

Following symptoms of depression must be there most of the day almost every day for at least two weeks:

• Irritability, anger, worry, agitation, anxiety
• Prolonged sadness or unexplained crying spells
• Significant changes in appetite, sleep patterns
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate, indecisiveness
• Inability to take pleasure in former interests, social withdrawal
• Recurring thoughts of death and suicide
• Loss of energy, persistent tiredness

According to National Institute of Mental Health, 1998, 50% of all patients experience a depressive episode between the ages of 20 & 50. The average age of onset is about 40, although many people experience their first episode in their late teens or early adulthood ( 15-30 ), or even younger. People with depression are four times more likely to develop a heart attack than those without a history of the disease. After a heart attack they are at a significantly increased risk of death or second heart attack.

Depression Treatment

Depression is Treatable. It start with deciding that you want to be treated, this thought can make all the difference. Treatment for depression can include talk therapy, medication like Zoloft, Prozac, Effexor, Wellbutrin, Lexapro or a combination of both. Sometimes medicine may be prescribed for a person who has depression. While prescribing medicine, doctor will cautiously observe the person to make sure he or she gets the right dose.

It is a fact that we all have basic emotional desires that must be met for us to succeed and enjoy life. After the main human desires for food, water and shelter come generally shared emotional and physical needs. Without exception we find depressed people are not getting these needs met.

This news release is entirely a personal opinion. It should not be misconstrued as a medical advice.

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