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4. Inheritance - Depression is commonly seen in people whose blood relatives
also have this condition.
While we all become sad at times, persistence of the problems noted above that
last for more than a few weeks, and are dysfunctional, should seek help for this
situation.  Several alternatives exist.
First, improvements in diet, exercise and sleep habits can be helpful to improve
mood and function.  You may respond to this with a nice, slow "blah, blah, blah...
typical tree-hugging blather." However, a wealth of scientific studies have shown the
major effect of lifestyle choices on Depression. If you stop and think about it, isn't it
pretty easy to commit to a short walk a few times weekly, or get to bed a half hour
earlier, or cutting down a tiny bit on some favorite high-calorie foods?
Another step is introspection.  Try to focus deep personal thought to your mood
and problems, and see if you can come up with a solution to your stress.  Relaxing
stimuli like meditation, or focusing on comforting thoughts related to your spirituality,
can help us seek answers to our doubts.  Incorporation of physical activities like
yoga can also improve mood.
Additionally, counselling  with a professional and/or group is often important in
managing Depression.  In the past, psychotherapy has explored the interpersonal
history of patients.  The history of life experiences is explored, with reflection on
how they shape our emotions. 
The espoused Founding Father of psychology, Sigmund Freud, focused on unconscious mental conflicts that need to be acknowledged and altered.  More commonly
in recent times, psychologists and physicians utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy,
which is more action oriented about reshaping your sad thoughts.  In it, a review
of stimuli that provoke sadness or anxiety is done. Once identified, one learns to
replace the feeling with a more comfortable response. Personal coping strategies are
developed, and information-processing is made more healthy.
Finally, medication has been a tremendous addition to management of Depression. 
While treatment failures are not uncommon, well over half of people who use these
medications report improvement.  Admittedly, 63% of patients on antidepressants
had at least one adverse effect during the first two weeks (including diarrhea, dizziness, dry mouth, fatigue, headache, sexual dysfunction, tremor and weight loss or
gain).  However, they have a statistical tendency to be mild and/or transient, so that
over 80% of patients who use these medications quickly tolerate them enough to
continue them. Doctors generally try to dose them according to the dictum "start
low, go slow." Medication, if tolerable and effective, should be used for a minimum
of 6 months, based on studies showing higher rates of recurrence if used for shorter
times.  Decision making about whether or not to continue  the medication longer
than 6 months depends on clinical effect, personal circumstance resolution, and
patient/physician evaluation and estimation. After a first episode of Depression,
the probability of a recurrence is 50%.  This probability rises to 70% after a second
episode, and to 90% after a third. 
If you're not sure if you just have a bad case of "the blues," or if it's a more serious
Depression, see a health profession to aid in making this decision.  Treatment can
help our depressed loved ones realize...that Life is Beautiful!

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