What is depression?

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2009
What is depression?
1
Wed, 02-17-2010 - 3:10pm
 
What Depression Is:

  • Depression is an illness, in the same way that diabetes or heart disease are illnesses.
  • Depression is an illness that affects the entire body, not just the mind.
  • Depression is an illness that one in five people will suffer during their lifetime.


  • Depression is the leading cause of alcoholism, drug abuse and other addictions.
  • Depression is an illness that can be successfully treated in more than eighty percent of the people who have it.
  • Depression is an equal-opportunity illness - it affects all ages, all races, all economic groups and both genders. Women, however, suffer from depression almost twice as much as men do.
  • At least half of the people suffering from depression do not get proper treatment.
  • Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide.
  • Depression is second only to heart disease in causing lost work days in America.
  • Unipolar major depression is the leading cause of disability.

What Depression Is Not:

  • Depression is not something to be ashamed of.
  • Depression is not the same thing as feeling "blue" or "down."
  • Depression is not a character flaw or the sign of a weak personality.
  • Depression is not a "mood" someone can "snap out of." (Would you ask someone to "snap out of" diabetes or high blood pressure?)
  • Depression is not fully recognized as an illness by most health care insurance providers. Most will only pay 50% of treatment costs for out-patient care, as well as limiting the number of visits.

(This information was provided from the Anti-depression medication board)


 

pink sunset
siggy waterfall
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-30-2009
Mon, 03-15-2010 - 4:55pm
Wanted to bump this to the top of the list so everyone still sees this post!
pink sunset
siggy waterfall