Family Doctor 2008

mind & body DEPRESSION Beating the blues Everyone feels down now and again. But if you can’t “just snap out of it,” and the sad mood persists, it’s time to see your family doctor. By Susanna E. Guzman important to continue taking it as directed. You may notice an improvement after only 1 week, but it’s possible that you won’t feel the full effects of the medicine for about 6 to 8 weeks. If you’re not feeling any better after several weeks, tell your doctor. You may need to switch to a different kind of antidepressant. The side effects of antidepressants vary from person to person and from medicine to medicine. If you’re considering ping effect, stoptreatment talk with SIGNS OF MAJOR DEPRESSION NO INTEREST OR PLEASURE IN THINGS YOU USED TO ENJOY FEELING SAD OR EMPTY CRYING EASILY FOR “NO REASON” FEELING SLOWED DOWN OR FEELING RESTLESS AND UNABLE TO SIT STILL FEELING WORTHLESS OR GUILTY WEIGHT GAIN OR LOSS THOUGHTS ABOUT DEATH OR SUICIDE TROUBLE THINKING, RECALLING THINGS OR FOCUSING TROUBLE MAKING EVERYDAY DECISIONS PROBLEMS SLEEPING, ESPECIALLY IN THE EARLY MORNING, OR WANTING TO SLEEP ALL THE TIME FEELING TIRED ALL THE TIME FEELING NUMB EMOTIONALLY recommends loss. Certain medicines, drugs and alcohol, or chronic illnesses can trigger depression. It also seems to run in families. ■ Set a more relaxed schedule. ■ Don’t believe negative thinking, such as blaming yourself or expecting to fail. ■ Do activities that make you feel good about yourself. ■ Avoid making big life decisions right now. ■ Avoid drugs and alcohol. Both make depression worse and can cause dangerous side effects with antidepressants. ■ Be active. Physical activity seems to cause a chemical reaction in the body that may improve your mood. ■ Try not to get discouraged. Remember that treating depression takes time. Talk with your doctor that you’re Your doctor can’t guess depressed just by looking at you, so tell him or her how you’re feeling. Your doctor may ask you some questions about your symptoms and your family history of health problems. He or she may also give you a physical exam and do some tests. because of a side your doctor ﬁrst. Since side effects are often worse in the beginning, simply waiting a month or 2 may be all that’s necessary. Or another antidepressant may be better for you. W hen doctors talk about depression, they mean a condition called “major depression.” Someone who Left untreated, The importance of early treatment depression can last Susanna E. Guzman is an editor with the American Academy of Family Physicians, headquartered in Leawood, Kan. for weeks, months or even years. The biggest risk of not getting treatment is suicide. If you’ve thought about hurting yourself, tell your doctor, friends or family, or call your local suicide hot line (the number is in the phone book). has major depression has some of the symptoms listed in the box on this page nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer. If you’re depressed, you may also have headaches, other aches and pains, digestive problems or problems with sex. Older people who are depressed may also feel confused or have trouble understanding simple requests. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION American Academy of Family Physicians http://familydoctor.org/046.xml Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance http://www.DBSAlliance.org National Institute of Mental Health http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/ depression/index.shtml Mental Health America http://www.nmha.org National Alliance on Mental Illness http://www.nami.org American Psychiatric Association http://www.psych.org Starting, and staying with, treatment Depression can be treated with medicines, or a special type of counseling called psychotherapy, or with both. Medicines called antidepressants work by correcting the chemical imbalance in the brain that causes depression. If your doctor prescribes medicine, it’s What causes depression Depression seems to be related to a chemical imbalance in the brain. It can be triggered by stressful events, such as the death of someone you love, a divorce or job 130 familydoctor 2008 http://familydoctor.org/046.xml http://www.DBSAlliance.org http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml http://www.nmha.org http://www.nami.org http://www.psych.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Family Doctor 2008

Family Doctor 2008 Foreward Introduction Contents What Do You Want From Health Care? Confident Communication Need a New Doctor? Understanding Your Health Insurance OTC Safety as Simple as 1-2-3 The Fight Against Resistance Drug Interactions Prevention is Better than Cure Hitting a Home Run 'The Herbalist Will See You Now' Healthy Eating to Boost Your Heart and Health Exercise: The Elixir of Life Back from the Brink Taking Control Up All Night Vitamins and Minerals 101 Allergies: Combating the Causes Protect Yourself From Colds and the Flu Diabetes: Assessing Your Risk Dealing with Diabetes The Cholesterol Count Getting a Grip on Hypertension Facts About CKD Banish the Burn Easing the Pain Stop the Pounding Urinary Tract Infections: Common and Preventable Skin Essentials The ABCs of COPD Impotence: Tackling the Old Taboo Taking Responsibility for Your Health Prostate Cancer Screening: Is it For You? Protecting Your Prostate Heart Disease and Women: Know the Risks Birth Control to Suit You Maneuvering Through Menopause Help for PMS Infertility: Problems Having a Baby Preventive Health: What Women Need to Know Pregnancy: Taking Care of You and Your Baby Eating for Two Postpartum Mood Disorders The Basics of Breast Milk Newborn Screening Tests: Possible Lifesavers Common Newborn Conditions Childhood Vaccines: Why They're Necessary Food Allergies: The Facts Facing Your Acne Raising Grades Staying On Your Feet Age Gracefully: Take Care of Your Bones Battling Osteoarthritis Tackling Anxiety Beating the Blues

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