Depression What is Depression? How is it Treated?

What Is Depression? 4 not just a case of feeling down in the dumps, or feeling blue. 4 Depression is a medical disorder that affects how a person thinks and feels on a daily basis.

What Can Cause Depression? 4 family history of depression 4 medical conditions 4 certain types of medication 4 use of drugs and alcohol 4 other mental illnesses 4 life conditions

What Are the Symptoms of Depression? 4 feeling of extreme sadness 4 loss of interest in activities that may have been previously enjoyed 4 feel very slowed down, or restless and agitated.

4 Low self-esteem 4 increase or decrease in the person’s weight or appetite 4 thoughts of death or suicide 4 concentration may be reduced

4 change in sleep pattern 4 loss of energy 4 feeling hopeless 4 increased anxiety.

How is Depression Treated? 4 The goal is to reduce the pain and suffering 4.

Medication 4 Antidepressants 4 anti anxiety and sedative medications.

Psychotherapy or Counselling 4 often a component to the treatment of depression 4 looking at how you feel about yourself, how you interact with people, your patterns of thinking, etc.

Hospitalization 4 sometimes necessary 4 if a person becomes a danger to themselves

ECT  used with people who need rapid treatment, or who have had poor success with antidepressants.