Are you depressed ?
Are you suffering from depression?
Life is full of ups and downs. But when the down times last for weeks or months at a time or keep you from living "normal," you may be suffering from
depression.
Depression is a medical illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts. It affects the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself, and the way you think about things. It is different from feeling "blue" or down for a few hours or a couple of days. It is not a condition that can be willed or wished away.
What causes depression?
There is no single cause of
depression. There are many reasons why a woman may become depressed:
- Hormonal factors - menstrual cycle changes, pregnancy, miscarriage, postpartum period, perimenopause, and menopause
- Stress - at work and home, single parenthood, caring for children and for aging parents
- Family history - inherited (it's in your genes); it can also occur in people with no family history
- Medical illness - stroke, heart attack, cancer
- Chemical imbalance - changes in the brain chemistry
What are the signs of depression?
Not all people with
depression have the same symptoms. Some people might only have a few, and others a lot. If you have one or more of these symptoms for more than 2 weeks or months at a time, see your doctor.
- Feeling sad, anxious, or "empty"
- Feeling hopeless
- Loss of interest in hobbies and activities that you once enjoyed
- Decreased energy
- Difficulty staying focused, remembering, making decisions
- Sleeplessness, early morning awakening, or oversleeping and not wanting to get up
- No desire to eat and weight loss or eating to "feel better" and weight gain
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