By Barbara Pierce
Depression is a common and serious illness, agonizing for those suffering as well as the family and friends around them. We’ve asked James Anderson, Ph.D., chief of the department of psychiatry at Bassett Healthcare Network in Cooperstown, to help us better understand depression.
1 — What exactly is depression? How common is it?
“Depression is one of the top two commonly diagnosed mental health conditions,” Anderson said. [The other is generalized anxiety disorder.] “We all have sad days, bad days. That’s the nature of the human condition. But what we define as major depression is distinctly different,” he said.
Feelings of sadness or that bad day usually go away quickly and don’t impact your life in a big way. Major depression is a syndrome with severe, concerning symptoms that last two weeks or more and cause serious impact your quality of life.
2 — How do I know if I or a family member could have major depression?
Anderson explained if you have a constellation of these symptoms for at least two weeks: Feeling down and depressed much of the time is an indication of major depression. Folks with depression have a reduced interest in things; the things they used to enjoy don’t seem to have the same buzz for them. Other indications are ongoing fatigue, every day; eating, either not enough or overeating; sleeping, either too much or not enough. With depression, you can’t focus your thinking, have a problem with concentration, i.e., can’t follow plot of a movie. Any thoughts of suicide should be taken seriously. These behaviors stacked on each other could indicate depression, Anderson explained.
3 — What are the causes?
“We don’t have a definitive answer for cause,” Anderson said. “Is it caused by nature or nurture? Genetics or environment? It’s both. Depression does run in families. If you have parents, grandparents or siblings with depression you have an increased risk of running into that problem. There is a genetic component.”
4 — What can I do if I or a family member may have depression?
There are things that help, Anderson said. People who exercise regularly are more resilient to depression and anxiety. Getting active, forcing yourself to get engaged with life can be helpful; can help people pull out of it. We all have a rough day once in a while, but if these days stack on one another, get your life going. If you wait to feel better, that day won’t come.
Family members are affected by the sufferer’s negativity — the never-ending complaints, the steady stream of criticisms, the lack of emotional closeness, and the loss of the ability to have fun together are some of the unintended consequences of depression.
If you’re consistently irritable and negative, that’s one of the side effects of depression. That pushes people away. As a family member, be aware of this — listen, talk, extend empathy. Don’t minimize the depression. Avoid saying things like ‘Snap out of it,’ or ‘It’s all in your head.’ They really can’t snap out of it.
Help the depressed person reach out for help. Start with your primary care professional. 988 is the 24-hour national suicide and crisis hotline; have that available.
Don’t wait. The sooner you reach out to get treatment, the sooner things will be better, Anderson stressed.
5 — Does major depression respond to treatment?
Major Depression won’t go away on its own; you do need to seek treatment. It does respond to treatment. Your primary care provider can prescribe antidepressant medication, like Prozac or Zoloft. They’re well tolerated by most people and they’re effective. Usually, you will need to take them for at least a few weeks before they’re really effective. If you don’t feel any benefit after four weeks, talk to the prescribing professional. You can also use some alternative supplements to keep you calm and relaxed. Buy magic mushrooms online and get the benefit of receiving them right at your doorstep.
In combination with medication, Anderson also recommends effective psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy; both are beneficial. Visit a therapist for more information on mental health treatments.
“If your depression doesn’t respond to medication and psychotherapy, there are almost always addition steps we can take,” Anderson said. “We’re seeing promising signs from more aggressive new treatments.”
“If you or a loved one has depression, you’re not alone,” Anderson added. “You’re not broken or damaged. This is an illness than can happen to anyone and it is treatable. You may feel hopeless, but, it’s a fact — people do get better.”