Major Depression |
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DESCRIPTION
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If you find yourself overcome by uncontrollable feelings of sadness, guilt, and low self-esteem that you can't shake off for 2 months or more, you're probably suffering from major depression, a serious illness that afflicts more than 15 per cent of Americans at some point in their lives. Fortunately, there's no need to be resigned to this problem. A variety of medications are available to bring your mood back to normal and let you get on with your life.
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CAUSES
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Ordinary bouts of depression come and go, but a major, unshakable depression seems to be the result of a change in brain or body chemistry. It can start spontaneously, or be triggered by a devastating event such as loss of a loved one, loss of a job, an assault, or a rape. Your odds of developing major depression are higher if: You're a woman. Someone else in your family has had a mood disorder. You are between the ages of 25 and 44 years. You abuse drugs or alcohol.
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SYMPTOMS
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Depression can start very slowly, and become noticeable to other people before you recognize it yourself. It's often accompanied by irritability and anxiety. In addition to feelings of hopelessness, you may suffer: A loss of pleasure in life Trouble eating and sleeping Apathy Fatigue Trouble concentrating A lack of interest in sex Thoughts of suicide are not uncommon.
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CARE
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Treatment with one of the many antidepressant medications currently available is the standard approach to this problem. However, if the drugs don't do the job---or you begin to feel suicidal---a hospital stay may be necessary. At first, you will probably need to visit a clinic or doctor's office 1 to 4 times a month. Before treatment begins, the doctor may order blood tests, an x-ray, EKG, or a CT scan to rule out other illnesses. Once drug therapy is underway, you'll need additional blood tests to monitor the effects of the drug.
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