Max Maclein

Ten percent of Americans

 

Symptoms of major depression

Ten percent of Americans are estimated to suffer from a depressive disorder. This type of mental disorders includes major depression. Symptoms of major depression are as follows: • No interest or pleasure in things you used to enjoy • Feeling sad or empty • Crying without reason "no reason" • Feeling slowed down or feeling unsatisfied and unable to sit still • Weight gain or loss • Thoughts about death or suicide • Trouble thinking, recalling things or concentrating • Trouble making daily decisions • Trouble sleeping, especially in the early morning or waiting to sleep all the time • Feeling tired all the time • Feeling numb emotionally Depression is believed to be related to chemical imbalances in the brain that makes it hard for cells to communicate with one another. Depression can result from stressful times, such as the death of somebody you love, a breakup or redundancy. But it can also come out of the blue. Certain medications, addiction to drugs and alcohol, can lead to depression. Depression can be treated with medicines, or specialist type of counseling called psychotherapy, or with both. Antidepressants are medications used to help people who have depression. The majority of people with depression feel better with treatment that includes these medications. Antidepressants work by raising the activity of certain chemicals in our brain called neurotransmitters. Antidepressants help make these natural chemicals more available to the brain. Antidepressants are usually taken leastwise for six to twelve months. At times, patients and their doctors may decide that antidepressants are required for a longer period of time. Antidepressants can improve your mood, sleep, concentration and appetite. It may take a few weeks for them to help. There are a few categories of antidepressants. You and your medical practitioner may have to try several before discovering what medication is the most effective for you. Medicines sometimes result in unexpected side effects. They may vary from patient to patient and from medication to medication. For example, when you first start your antidepressant you may feel tired, have trouble sleeping or have upset stomach. These side effects ordinarily disappear after a short time. Even after a year of treatment, there is still about a 10% probability of depression returning when treatment is finished. Some people take an antidepressant for several years. <!--##-->