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(BTP) – Sadness and sorrow are normal human emotions. These feelings can often last a short time. However, when these emotions last for days or weeks, depression becomes a concern.
According to the American Psychiatric Association, depression is a common and serious condition that negatively affects your feelings, your way of thinking and your behavior. Fortunately, depression is one of the easiest mental conditions to treat. Between 80% and 90% of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients get relief from their symptoms.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 16.2 million adults in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in a given year. In fact, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics, about 8.1% of adults aged 20 and over were suffering from depression during a given 2-week period in 2013-2016. Of the people affected by depression, 80% reported having at least some difficulty managing their work, home activities and social activities.
In the past, the stigma surrounding depression had led some people to avoid asking for help. While celebrities, musicians and even politicians talk about their own depression issues, people felt empowered to take the necessary steps to find the help they need.
Symptoms of depression
It can be difficult to know when feeling depressed becomes more worrying. According to the American Anxiety and Depression Association, a major depressive episode may include some of these symptoms:
* Mood persistent sad, anxious or "empty"
* Feelings of despair
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness or helplessness
* Agitation, irritability
* Loss of interest or pleasure in recreation
* Reduction of energy
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering or making decisions
* Insomnia, morning waking or excess sleep
* Low appetite and weight loss, or, overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment (such as headaches, digestive disorders and pain for which no other cause can be diagnosed)
Three steps that can help
People suffering from all or part of these symptoms can act by following these three steps.
Step 1: Get examined by a qualified mental health expert. Depression can only be diagnosed by a health professional with special assessments and tools to make the appropriate diagnosis.
Step 2: Talk to your health care provider about a treatment plan. Depression can be managed with the right treatment options. A health care provider can decide which strategy is best for you. Current treatment plans may include psychotherapy and medication.
Step 3: Follow a treatment plan closely and take the medications as prescribed. Abrupt discontinuation of medications may cause withdrawal symptoms that may worsen the depression. If you are not insured or your health insurance does not cover the medications you need, some programs may help you. For example, the Inside Rx program is a prescription free savings program that could save an average of 40% on brand name drugs and 80% on generic retail prices. You can view the price of drugs, as well as conditions and restrictions such as eligibility criteria, on InsideRx.com.
Depression does not discriminate. This concerns all races, all ages and all sexes. Follow these first steps to help manage your symptoms. Do not forget that if you feel suicidal, call the National Suicide Prevention Line at 1-800-273-8255 immediately.
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