DEPRESSION

http://www.healthline.com/channel/depression.html

Depression is more than just occasionally having the blues. Depression is a mood disorder. You feel sad and have no joy in life. You may feel that you have nothing to live for. There are many types of depression, from simple depressed mood to Major Depression - a life-threatening illness.

Treatment for depression depends on the type of depression you are diagnosed with, and the diagnosis depends on your symptoms. The Depression Learning Channel provides talking points to help you better communicate with your doctor. Why is the doctor asking you about your sleep cycle and eating habits? Why does she care about your sex life and your relationships? Why would she need to know how much alcohol you drink or what medications you take? Because all of these things are clues in determining what type of depression you are suffering from, and how best to treat it.

There are many mood disorders and depression is a feature of most of them. Bipolar disorder, cyclothymic disorder, post-partum depression, seasonal affective disorder are just a few. Depression afflicts people of every age, race and income level, but it is more common in adult women than the rest of the population.

Depression is not something you can just snap out of. Most people who are depressed need professional help to feel better. Make sure you get the help you need. Consult our Doctor Specialties section in the Depression Learning Center. Social connections are extremely important in the healing process. Depression can be short term or long term - sometimes it lasts weeks while in other cases it may last years.

What are the strategies for preventing depression? There are so many antidepressants available now that can be used to do just that. What do you need to know about the medications prescribed for you? Are there complementary and alternative therapies that may be helpful? Healthline Experts offer news and opinion about depression in our blog posts. [collapse]