Do You Have Clinical Depression?

Clinical depression is a disorder that affects millions of individuals around the world. You may also hear this disorder referred to as unipolar depression, major depressive disorder or just simply depression. This type of depression is easily recognized because its symptoms are severe enough to drastically affect a sufferer's normal life. There are many different symptoms that may manifest as part of this disorder.

There may be extreme sadness that has occurred for an extended period of time. Individuals suffering from this disorder may feel empty, hopeless and irritable. There are likely changes in sleep patterns and appetite. The depressed individual may even experience various aches and pains for which there is no medical explanation. There may be crying fits and fatigue. A person suffering from this problem may stop attending to their appearance or personal hygiene. They might also exhibit aggressiveness or hostility. As you can see, there are a variety of different symptoms that can occur with major depression. These symptoms can last for weeks, months or even years without respite. They may occur for no apparent reason, which can be very frustrating for not only the sufferer but also those close to him or her.

If depression is suspected, it is crucial to seek professional help. Often, the depressed individual may not want to get help. Hopefully, they will decide to do so with a little coaxing. No one wants to feel awful all of the time, and the promise of relief can be the motivation a depressed individual needs to go to the doctor. At the initial consultation, symptoms will be evaluated and a diagnosis will be reached. There may be a list of questions regarding symptoms and lifestyle that will need to be answered. If depression is determined to be the cause of the symptoms, treatment options will be discussed.

For clinical depression, medication is often necessary. Antidepressants are the most commonly prescribed medicine for this type of depression. Your doctor may recommend something like Prozac, Paxil, Lexapro or another similar drug. It is important to understand that the majority of antidepressants take anywhere from four to eight weeks to reach maximum efficiency. During this time, therapy or counseling may be recommended to help the depressed individual deal with their symptoms and learn new coping mechanisms.

Copyright 2007 Jim Sterling - All Rights Reserved

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