Clinical depression, a serious medical condition, affects over 17 million adults in the United States alone. Depression itself is a very common occurrence for most people. All of us feel a little down from time to time, but this usually goes away. Clinical depression is much more serious disorder and it can affect the lives of not only its sufferer, but also those who are in direct contact with them. Family, friends, coworkers can all be affected by the clinically depressed person. While just about anyone can suffer from clinical depression it typically begins for most people in their late 20s. It is also important to note that depression affects twice as many females as it does males, although this disparity lessens when women reach about 50 years of age and go through menopause. Clinical depression is a serious problem and is currently the leading cause of disability in the United States. It is responsible for an estimated $44 billion loss in worker productivity every year alone. In addition to this monetary cost, it wreaks havoc on those who have it and their loved ones as well, resulting in broken families and relationships. Although depression can go undetected for long periods of time there are signs and symptoms that one can be on the lookout for. Signs that depression may be taking hold of you or someone you know include feelings of loss, anxiety, or pessimism, a rapid loss or gain in weight, fatigue, thoughts of self harm or even suicide. Depression will change how a person thinks, feel, and acts. These changes can happen slowly or quickly depending on the person, but the telling factor is they continue to be this way and do not return back to their normal selves. A depressed person will also start to withdraw from social situations and will become less talkative and less willing to participate in activities they used to enjoy. The good news is there are treatments for depression. If you or someone you know is showing the sign of being depressed then it is important that you or they get to a doctor or psychologist as soon as possible. The best treatment for clinical depression is a combination of counseling and anti-depressant drugs known as SSRI's and MAOI's. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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