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More Americans Seeking Help for Depression
Depression can happen to anyone. No matter what age you are. No matter where you come from. No matter how hard you try to "snap out of it." According to the newly-released National Comorbidity Study sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, at some time in their lives more than 16% of Americans--as many as 35 million people--suffer from depression that's serious enough to warrant treatment.
Nationwide, more than half of those who suffer with depression now seek treatment, up from one-third ten years ago--and yet, while it's true that more people are seeking professional help, researchers have found that nearly 60% of those in treatment do not receive adequate care. One important reason that people with depression fail to receive the help they need is that many turn to their family doctors, who often don't treat depression aggressively enough.
Additional study results reveal that five particular symptoms appear more frequently in people who screen positive for depression. These symptoms are psychological in nature and are not symptoms that would necessarily lead someone to seek professional help. This may be one key explanation for the vast discrepancy between depression's prevalence and the number of people who actually receive the care they need.
Feeling Depressed? You're Not Alone
Depression can happen to anyone. No matter what age you are. No matter where you come from. No matter how hard you try to "snap out of it." Depression can make it very hard for you to care for yourself, your family, or even carry on sufficiently at work. But there is hope. Depression can be treated and you can feel better.
Signs of Depression
If any five or so of the following symptoms apply to you for a solid two weeks, please seek a professional evaluation for depression ASAP and take this list with you to discuss the symptoms you identified with. Asking for help is a sign of strength and will spare you from unnecessary suffering.
1. I am really sad most of the time.
2. I don’t enjoy doing the things I’ve always enjoyed doing.
3. I don’t sleep well at night and am always restless.
4. I am always tired. I find it hard to get out of bed.
5. I don’t feel like eating much.
6. I feel like eating all the time.
7. I have lots of aches and pains that don’t go away and have no real medical cause.
8. I have little to no sexual energy.
9. I find it hard to focus and am very forgetful.
10. I am mad at everybody and everything.
11. I feel upset and fearful--but don’t know why.
12. I don’t feel like talking to people.
13. I feel like there isn’t much point to living—nothing good is going to happen for me.
14. I don’t like myself very much. I feel bad most of the time.
15. I think about death a lot. I even think about killing myself.**
**Sometimes depression can cause people to feel like ending their lives. If you are having thoughts about suicide, or know someone who is talking about it, get help:
Call 911, or
Go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital, or
Call and talk to a doctor or therapist now, or
Ask a friend or family member to either take you to the hospital or call your doctor for you.
Get Treatment For Your Depression. You Can Feel Better
There are two common types of treatment for depression: (1) medicine and (2) "talk" therapy. Many people need both treatments to feel better.
Medicine
Medicines for depression are called "antidepressants." Your regular doctor or a psychiatrist (a medical doctor trained in helping people with depression) can prescribe them for you.
Antidepressants may take a few weeks to work. Be sure to tell the doctor how you are feeling. If you are not feeling better, you may need to try different medicines to find out what works best for you.
Medicines sometimes cause unwanted "side effects." You may feel tired, have blurred vision, or feel sick to your stomach. Tell the doctor if you have these or any other side effects.
"Talk" Therapy
"Talk" therapy involves talking to someone such as a psychologist or counselor. It helps you learn to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act. Look to 4therapy.com’s Therapist Locator for one of the nation’s finest therapist near you. You can feel better.
Link: Find a Therapist
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