I have suffered from clinical depression for most of my adult life.  After years of suffering in silence, I finally decided to speak up and get help.  Over time the clouds lifted and I began to see the sun once again.  I would like to share a bit of information with you about depression and, hopefully, you will decide that it is okay to seek help.

Depression is a professional diagnosis, which is divided into many sub categories, and may be reached when a patient displays some or all of the following symptoms. (Some symptoms appear to be contradictory, which is a part of the character of this debilitating condition.)

Sufferers from depression often exhibit disturbed sleep patterns, which may involve sleeping for long periods of time, or the inability to sleep. Fatigue and low energy with little desire to do anything, especially activities that were previously enjoyable are characteristic symptoms of depression. Withdrawing from social and family contact, changes in appetite with large weight losses or gains are more warning signs of depression.

The most serious symptoms, which may call for hospitalization and immediate drug therapy, are attempts at suicide, thoughts of death, feeling hopeless, being severely irritable, experiencing difficulty concentrating and expressing inappropriate feelings of guilt.

Treatment depends largely on the level of depression that is diagnosed.

A mild case of depression may follow sad events in a patient’s life, such as bereavement and financial and emotional difficulties.

Treatments for depression suitable for this group of patients can be referrals to mental care professionals such as psychiatrists and group therapy sessions at depression treatment centers and may or may not include the prescription of anti-depressant medications.

Deciding which cases are manageable by a prescription for either a sedative or anti-depressive medication in treatment for depression is a very difficult and skilled job which only experienced doctors are qualified to make.

If no serious threat to the patient or public is presented by maintaining a patient in the home environment, and permitting them to continue any working routines, a doctor will issue a prescription for one or more drugs and may add a recommendation for therapy or counseling.

Some symptoms a patient who is suitable for this kind of treatment may display include awareness of their illness and willingness to accept help to cure it.

Patients may enter a residential depression treatment center as part of the initial treatment of depression, or as a long term solution when a patient exhibits a serious threat of violence to themselves or others.

Silent and withdrawn cases are the hardest to diagnose, so some patients will benefit from observation and regular meals, in a depression treatment center until an accurate diagnosis is made. In extreme cases, heavy sedation and restraints may be needed until a diagnosis can be made and very specific medications applied.

If the patient is severely afflicted, either relatives or the local authorities may sign the relevant papers to allow the patient’s detention for depression treatments.

This class of patient may be totally unaware of their illness.

n any suspected case of mental illness involving mild to serious depression, a professional diagnosis is vital, as soon as possible after friends and family notice unusual behavior. 

Medical  studies indicate the danger to a patient or the general public is greatest before any help is sought.

You might just save a life.