Just because you feel sad and depressed for a few days does not mean that you have depression. A serious condition that can last months or even years, that’s depression. According to various reports as many as fifteen million Americans suffer from this disease. And yet, sadly, only about 1/3 of those people seek medical care. All too often people avoid recognizing or admitting that they suffer from depression because of the negative archetypes associated with mental illnesses. Depression gets worse with time. It will get worse without treatment. It cannot be ignored.
A variety of factors, and even combinations of these factors, lead to the many types of depression. These include the whole spectrum of genetic, biological, physical and emotional items. Simple daily life and surroundings are important. Stress and other negative influences have been known to contribute. Depression is a very complicated disease. As well, the human brain and its workings are quite complex. The medical profession is working steadily in an attempt to study the mind and how it works. A chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression, that’s known. We are learning more every day about how the whole process works. The more we learn about depression the better we can treat it.
Depression treatment comes from a variety of medications on the market. Miracle treatments also exist, but many times these are empty claims. Clinical tests to prove something really works in treating depression are required. At one time asylums and mental institutions were filled to the brim with mentally ill people. That is a thing of the past, thank goodness. In 1988 the anti-depressant ‘Prozac’ first hit the market in the United States. Although it has side effects it is widely used and it is effective.
A new class of anti-depressants has become widely used since then. Currently depression is being treated with SSRI or (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox. These work even though they too show some side effects. The market is also ripe with herbal medications and treatments. Hyperforin, an ingredient in the St. John Wort extract, is common in those that seem to work as well as anti-depressants. If this ingredient is used in the proper strength it is effective. When seeking depression medications that work ask questions, do your research, and know the facts.
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