By Kristen Huang
It seems that the most popular illness now is “depression disorder.” Almost every day doctors and experts are talking about depression on TV, in magazines, or in the newspapers. The World Health Organization even considers depression one of the three major diseases of the twenty-first century, along with cancer and AIDS. But do people truly know what depression disorder is? Some suffer depression but are not aware of it; some are just in a blue mood and don’t really suffer from depression. How do I know if I am depressed or just in a bad mood? What is depression disorder? Depression disorder, also called “melancholia,” is a disease, just as diabetes, heart disease, or any other illness. This disease is caused by an imbalance of brain chemicals, together with other factors. Normally brain chemicals serve as messengers, helping nerve cells communicate with one another, and they also affect our mood. When the available supply of the chemical messengers is low, nerve cells can’t communicate with each other effectively. This results in the symptoms of depression. Some people’s knowledge of depression is wrong. First, as with any disease, depression is not something to be ashamed of. Instead of a character flaw or a sign of a weak personality, depression is just an illness that requires medical treatment. Without proper treatment, the illness may do injury to a person’s relationships and career. A recent survey in the US indicated that depression is second only to heart disease in causing lost workdays. Secondly, depression is an illness that influences the entire body, not solely the mind. It is different from the “blue mood” which one can snap out of, as it not only affects mental situations but also harms psychological health—just as no sufferer of diabetes can snap out of the disease. One study even shows that major depression is the leading cause of disability. According to statistics, one in five people suffers depression during his or her lifetime; at any given time, millions of people are suffering from depression. The disease is also the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse, and other addictions. It is not only harmful to our lives but also affects the lives of those around us. Depression is not just a mere trifle. Who becomes depressed? Depression affects all ages, races, and both genders. However, women suffer from depression nearly twice as much as men do. According to research conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health, the lifetime prevalence of depression is 15%; it could even reach 25﹪among women. Also, people with certain risk factors are more likely to become depressed, such as traumatic life experiences, suffering from other diseases and taking medication, substance abuse, hormonal changes, or a family history of depression. In some cases, the reason remains unknown: all we know is that the imbalance of certain brain chemicals caused the illness. What are the symptoms? There are a number of signs and symptoms helping doctors determine whether a person has depression: · Depressed, persistently sad, empty, or irritable mood almost every day · Frequent feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness, or guilt · Frequent thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts · Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex · Insomnia, sleeping too much, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping · A sudden change in weight or appetite (loss, or overeating and weight gain) · Constant fatigue or loss of energy, being “slowed down” · Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering · Observable agitation, irritability, or restlessness · Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain If one has more than five symptoms lasting for two weeks or more, he or she probably has been suffering from major depression; with three or four symptoms lasting for three months, one might have dysthymia; if two of the symptoms above last for a long period of time, it could be either chronic depression or dysthymia. However, this is for reference only since symptoms may vary from person to person. If you doubt whether you have depression or you have some of the symptoms above, seek the assistance of a doctor. Treatment of Depression As mentioned above, depression is not something one can snap out of, just as no one can snap out of diabetes or high blood pressure; therefore proper medical treatment is necessary. Although some people suffer depression during their lifetime, it is still treatable in more than 80% of those who have it. Nevertheless, fewer than two-thirds of people with depression ever seek proper treatment. The reason could be the lack of understanding that depression should be treated by a medical professional, or they feel too ashamed to admit having the problem. The depressed feeling itself could also be a barrier for those people to take action. We should be alert to such a situation because untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide. Statistics show that suicide has become one of the ten major causes of death in Taiwan, and subjects in nearly 70% of these cases are people suffering from depression. Be sure to seek help from a medical professional if you have doubts or suffer from some common symptoms of depression. Though there is no definite test to examine depression, doctors still have certain ways to do it. Firstly the doctor will try to exclude physical causes, such as thyroid dysfunction, and then ask a series of questions covering family history, past and current medical problems, and current state of mind. Past episodes of depression will also be taken into consideration. After these processes, the doctor will use the diagnostic criteria in the DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to determine if the patient has depression, and if so, which form. Treatment is then administered. The treatment usually contains medication or therapy or both, depending on the form of depression. Thus a proper diagnosis is of vital importance for determining the treatment. Different types of antidepressant medications are available. Patients usually tend to stop medication too soon as they begin to feel better or see improvement in the first few weeks. In most cases, however, to see the full therapeutic effect, antidepressant medications should be taken regularly for at least three to four weeks. For people with chronic major depression, medication may have to be maintained indefinitely. Self-screening 1. Do you often feel overwhelmed or unable to deal with the stresses of everyday life? 2. Do you often feel sad or upset for no apparent reason? 3. Do you lack energy, motivation or concentration? Do you fail to make decisions? 4. Have you lost interest in activities that you were once enjoyed? 5. Do you experience episodes of intense, panicked anxiety? 6. Are you often agitated, nervous or irritable? 7. Do you have difficulty sleeping? Or are you sleeping too much? 8. Do you manage to make yourself disappear? Do you feel like hurting yourself? 9. Do you often feel miserable? Where can I get help? Since depression influences so many aspects of life, it is crucial to know who and when to talk about it. Reaching out to the right people at the right time may bring great support and improve the chances for successful treatment. The following websites include more information about depression and some hospital psychiatry departments. http://www.psychology.org.tw/miindex.htm (Phone numbers of hospitals) http://www.tcpc.gov.tw/index.asp (Taipei City Psychiatric Center) http://www.psychology.org.tw/psypath.htm (Introduction of common mental illnesses) http://www.chgh.org.tw/ (Cheng Hsin Rehabilitation Medical Center) http://www.mhf.org.tw/2003new/index.php (Mental Health Foundation) http://www.ilife.org.tw/ (Local society) http://www.taconet.com.tw/psydanny Remember depression is a medical condition that should and can be treated. If you doubt that you or someone you know has depression, it is important to seek help. The doctor can offer an answer for you. If you simply feel down, don’t worry! a
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May 2024
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