Depression -Do You Have These Symptoms?

Most of us know at least one person who has been diagnosed with depression. Maybe you think that you may have depression? Do your emotions fit the criteria for depression? Clinical depression affects millions of people. Understanding what depression is can be a first step towards getting the right help. Let's look at some of the facts.

First of all, having days when you feel down, or sad, is normal. We all have days when we feel blue, or down. It is just part of life. If those sad, blue feelings become your most predominant feelings however, like a dark persistent cloud, your emotions may not be just a "mood" but depression.

Depression is a mental disorder. Depression can overwhelm your mind, your thoughts and your body. It affects your personality, your interaction with others, and your beliefs as well. When in depression it is just about impossible to feel hopeful about anything, including ever feeling happy again.

So how can you tell the difference between actual clinical depression and normal feelings of sadness. Essentially it's about intensity and time. The feelings associated with depression are much more intense. Your character and your ability to cope with reality become severely affected. It becomes almost impossible to function on a daily basis.

Typically, the threshold for diagnosing depression is about two weeks. When we experience negative events, it is normal to want to withdraw, and to feel sad. If after a few weeks you are still withdrawn and there is no relief from the sadness, it is possible that you have entered a depressive episode. Untreated depression can last for months to years.

How is depression treated? The good news is that depression is very treatable. Combining therapy with medication is usually quite effective. Investigating some of the newer "Energy Therapies" such as Emotional Freedom Techniques or Tapas Acupressure Technique can bring some impressive results and can be done in conjunction with traditional methods.

No one is immune to the effects of depression. It is not an indication of weakness or failure. If you suspect that you or someone you know may be suffering from depression, it's important to get professional advice as soon as possible.

Can it be? Does Candida Cause Depression? And additional articles by Harold Ulvaeus about depression such as Trends In Teen Depression can be found on our website.