Introduction

While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, the illness of depression can have enormous depth and staying power. Even the ancient Greeks noted how disabling it could be, and that it was more than a passing bout of sadness or dejection, or feeling down in the dumps. If you have ever suffered from depression or been close to someone who has, you know that this illness cannot be lifted at will or wished or joked away. A man in the grip of depression can't solve his problems by showing a little more backbone. Nor can a woman who is depressed simply shake off the blues.

Being depressed has nothing to do with personal weakness. Scientists' developing knowledge of brain chemistry and findings from brain imaging studies reveal that changes in nerve pathways and brain chemicals called neurotransmitters can affect your moods and thoughts. These neurological changes may bubble up as symptoms of depression — including derailed sleep, suppressed appetite, agitation, exhaustion, or apathy. In addition, genetic studies show that although no single gene prompts depression, a combination of genetic variations may heighten vulnerability to this disease.

Nerve pathways, chemistry, and genetics aren't the whole story, though. Depression could be described as a lake fed by many streams. Its tributaries include traumatic or stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, and psychological traits, such as a pessimistic outlook or a tendency toward isolation. An episode of depression may result from one particularly powerful experience or from a confluence of several factors. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, during a given year approximately 1 in 10 adults will suffer from some form of depression. Each episode usually affects a chain of people. It can fray bonds between you and your family and friends by spoiling intimacy, sapping emotional resources, and stealing the joy of shared pleasures.

Thankfully, years of research and breakthroughs have made this serious illness easier to treat. Early recognition of the signs of depression is more common than in the past. Newer treatments, such as drugs targeted at specific changes in brain chemistry, can cut short otherwise crippling episodes. A variety of drugs and therapies can also be combined to boost the likelihood of a full remission.

Beneath the cloud of depression

For those beneath its cloud, depression can seem overwhelming. But treatment can let light and hope back into your life.

This report provides information on these and other helpful therapies. Reading it and sharing it with loved ones might help improve your life — or the life of someone close to you. And, because depression remains a leading cause of suicide, the information might even be lifesaving.

Source: from Harvard Health Publications, Copyright © 2008 Harvard University. All rights reserved. Harvard Medical School does not endorse products.
Used with permission of StayWell.
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