Mental wellbeing
Depression
Depression is a common disorder. It actually affects as many as 3 million people in Britain at any one time. It is also a greatly misunderstood condition, often labelled as a personal weakness in someone who is seen as "unable to cope". Because of the stigma attached to this or any other `mental' disorder, it is thought that about half of those suffering from depression go undetected and therefore untreated, because they feel ashamed to admit their symptoms to their doctor. This is a great pity, because the condition responds so well to treatment.
Who gets it?
About 10-15% of patients with depression have a family history of the condition.It is more common in people who are subject to mood swings such as those who are full of bounce one day, then very low another.
Women aged 20-45 years are more prone to depression, especially as it can occur after childbirth (Post natal depression), and in some women on a regular basis in the week before their period, often mixed with anxiety (`Pre menstrual Syndrome').
Depression can often occur after a traumatic experience, such as death of a loved one, a divorce, or as result of financial problems.
What is it?
Depression is not a passing mood of feeling low, but a disorder of many different symptoms that persist, causing the sufferer to seek help or in extreme unfortunate cases, to commit suicide. With depression, you feel pessimistic, negative, hopeless, sad, isolated, inadequate and full of despair.
I call depression the `loss syndrome', because there is loss of interest in everything around you; loss of interest in work and home, loss of humour, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, loss of interest in sex, loss of concentration, loss of energy and loss of self confidence. Mixed with these symptoms can be feelings of anxiety, agitation and panic. Early morning wakening (4 to 5am) is common, and the depression is usually at it's worst in the morning, with the patient feeling a little better later in the day. The patient often feels weepy, and because they dispair of the future, thoughts of suicide occur.
It's a frightening condition to have, and if you feel that you may be suffering just some of these symptoms, don't feel ashamed or inadequate, go to your doctor, because modern treatments for depression are so effective.
Treatment
If you develop depression, you will probably be treated by your own GP, as there are several different types of antidepressants available. You would only be referred to a psychiatrist if you did not respond to the GPs medication, or if your doctor considered that your depression was of a very severe nature.
Antidepressants don't produce an improvement until they have been taken for about 10-14 days, so be patient. Some can cause side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and even weight gain, but if you are getting side effects it proves that the drug is working!
Unlike some tranquillisers, antidepressants are not addictive and can be taken for long periods of time. As well as lifting the depression, some antidepressants have calming effects and others have stimulating effects.
A new group of antidepressants, comprising of four drugs named `Prozac', `Faverin', `Seroxat' and `Lustral' are proving useful because they have very few side effects and need only be taken once daily. These are also useful in patients who are overweight, because they have been shown to reduce weight. When some of these drugs were released in America, overweight women were going to their doctors faking symptoms of depression, and asking for the drugs by name!! Further information can be found at:
Depressives Annonymous http://www.depressionanon.co.uk
MIND http://www.mind.org.uk
The Samaritans http://www.samaritans.org.uk
Image © anna - Fotolia.com
Depression
Depression
Depression is a common disorder. It actually affects as many as 3 million people in Britain at any one time. It is also a greatly misunderstood condition, often labelled as a personal weakness in someone who is seen as "unable to cope". Because of the stigma attached to this or any other `mental' disorder, it is thought that about half of those suffering from depression go undetected and therefore untreated, because they feel ashamed to admit their symptoms to their doctor. This is a great pity, because the condition responds so well to treatment.
Who gets it?
About 10-15% of patients with depression have a family history of the condition.It is more common in people who are subject to mood swings such as those who are full of bounce one day, then very low another.
Women aged 20-45 years are more prone to depression, especially as it can occur after childbirth (Post natal depression), and in some women on a regular basis in the week before their period, often mixed with anxiety (`Pre menstrual Syndrome').
Depression can often occur after a traumatic experience, such as death of a loved one, a divorce, or as result of financial problems.
What is it?
Depression is not a passing mood of feeling low, but a disorder of many different symptoms that persist, causing the sufferer to seek help or in extreme unfortunate cases, to commit suicide. With depression, you feel pessimistic, negative, hopeless, sad, isolated, inadequate and full of despair.
I call depression the `loss syndrome', because there is loss of interest in everything around you; loss of interest in work and home, loss of humour, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, loss of interest in sex, loss of concentration, loss of energy and loss of self confidence. Mixed with these symptoms can be feelings of anxiety, agitation and panic. Early morning wakening (4 to 5am) is common, and the depression is usually at it's worst in the morning, with the patient feeling a little better later in the day. The patient often feels weepy, and because they dispair of the future, thoughts of suicide occur.
It's a frightening condition to have, and if you feel that you may be suffering just some of these symptoms, don't feel ashamed or inadequate, go to your doctor, because modern treatments for depression are so effective.
Treatment
If you develop depression, you will probably be treated by your own GP, as there are several different types of antidepressants available. You would only be referred to a psychiatrist if you did not respond to the GPs medication, or if your doctor considered that your depression was of a very severe nature.
Antidepressants don't produce an improvement until they have been taken for about 10-14 days, so be patient. Some can cause side effects such as dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and even weight gain, but if you are getting side effects it proves that the drug is working!
Unlike some tranquillisers, antidepressants are not addictive and can be taken for long periods of time. As well as lifting the depression, some antidepressants have calming effects and others have stimulating effects.
A new group of antidepressants, comprising of four drugs named `Prozac', `Faverin', `Seroxat' and `Lustral' are proving useful because they have very few side effects and need only be taken once daily. These are also useful in patients who are overweight, because they have been shown to reduce weight. When some of these drugs were released in America, overweight women were going to their doctors faking symptoms of depression, and asking for the drugs by name!! Further information can be found at:
Depressives Annonymous http://www.depressionanon.co.uk
MIND http://www.mind.org.uk
The Samaritans http://www.samaritans.org.uk
This article was published on Mon 27 April 1992
Image © anna - Fotolia.com
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