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Home / Advice 101 / Depression

Depression


We want you to know that you are not alone and that we would be happy to talk to you on the phone, in person or through email. Please feel free to contact us! We are not professional counsellors but are able to listen and direct you to professional agencies. We walk along side you during your tough times.

Everyone feels down now and then but feeling down does not mean that you are clinically depressed. Suffering from depression is very different than simply "feeling depressed."

Clinical depression often causes despair and hopelessness so profound that the depressed person loses interest in life, becomes incapable of feeling pleasure and may be unable to get out of bed or eat for days at a time.

Major depression is not necessarily caused by an event or as a result of the state of affairs in someone's life. Often there is not a definable event that triggers depression. Experts agree, however, that certain people are predisposed to depression due to factors that include family history of mental illness, abuse, chronic illness, loss of a parent, divorce or abandonment. In some cases, depression can be wholly attributed to chemical imbalances. Whether caused by psychological factors, chemical factors, or a combination of the two, the most important thing is to identify the illness and seek treatment.

The most common symptoms of depression include:

  • Persistent sadness and/or irritability.
  • Low self-esteem or feelings of worthlessness.
  • Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
  • Increase or decrease in appetite. Difficulty concentrating.
  • Headaches, stomachaches or other physical pains that seem to have no cause.
  • Changes in activity level.
  • Recurring thoughts of death or suicide.
  • Increase or decrease in amount of sleep.
  • Chronic indecisiveness.

What are the treatments for depression?

Most depression can be treated with medication. There are numerous brands and types of anti-depressant medications on the market. Not all individuals respond the same way to medication and usually an individual will try several different brands before finding one that works well. Besides prescribing medication, therapy is another effective tool that is commonly used to treat depression.