Fighting Chronic Major Depression

by Kristyne McDaniel

Steve has been fighting chronic depression for most of his adult life. Kristyne had a serious encounter with depression in the early 1990's that left her wary and damaged, but is not otherwise continuously afflicted. Not everyone will have to encounter depression personally, but nearly everyone will be affected by someone near them suffering with depression. Understanding is key.

Major depression is a debilitating mental illness that affects nearly 9.9 million adults in the United States in any given year. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, major depression is diagnosed after more than one of these symptoms such as, difficulty sleeping, sadness, irritability, agitation, or thoughts of hopelessness or suicide occur at the same time, persist for over two weeks, and interfere with normal activities (work, social outings, activities of daily living). Other physical symptoms may occur as well, like nausea, abdominal pain, or headaches. Mental health professionals, psychiatrists, and psychotherapists can help those that are suffering from major depression; there are new medications and treatments being prescribed that are proving to be very effective in treating symptoms of major depression.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to the development of major depression. A genetic link is also quite common, but just because there is a genetic predisposition doesn’t mean that the condition will develop. Also, current psychological stressors combined with biological and environmental factors play a huge part. Chemical imbalances that occur between the neurotransmitters in the brain, serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are thought to be one of the causes of major depression. Antidepressant medications make more of these neurotransmitters available to correct the imbalance and alleviate symptoms. There are different classes of antidepressants that work differently; the oldest group is the tricyclic antidepressants such as Elavil, which is still prescribed for more severe cases, and the newest is selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which work quite well and are better tolerated than tricyclics or another older medication, like monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs).

Psychotherapy is another effective treatment that is most often used in combination with prescribed medications for major depression. If symptoms persist and response to medications is inadequate, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be recommended. You may be having visions of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. It’s not like that at all, and many patients respond quite well when other types of treatment have failed. Major depression doesn’t have to be a debilitating mental illness. There are many resources available to help patients learn about and live with major depression, including mental health professionals, online information sites, and support groups. Seeking help is the first step in conquering mental illness, and adhering to prescribed treatment plans and communicating with mental health professionals is the second. It is possible to live a normal life and overcome major depression; it takes just one step – ask for help.

• Depression Is An Equal Opportunity Condition

Various methods help tremendously in the fight against depression. Talking openly with the people you are closest to is very important. It does no good to simply say "don't say that" to someone that is obviously worried about a real problem.

Two of the more popular newer drugs in treating major depression are Wellbutrin^® and Zoloft^®. I can't offer any thoughts on either of these drugs because I did take Wellbutrin at one point and it made me sick, and have never taken Zoloft. It turned out, though, that I had an anxiety disorder and was not depressed and was misdiagnosed. My doctor told me that antidepressants of some types can have adverse effects on people with anxiety disorders (like me), and that is why I had such a strong negative reaction. Steve has recently begun taking Cymbalta^® because of its pain reduction properties. He has a lot of nerve pain in his right leg and it seemed worth a try. We have developed a list of some of the most used antidepressants on the market, as well as how you can find information about them. The FDA has approved this medication guide discussing the approved uses of antidepressants for children. As the saying goes, your mileage may vary.

_{This page was last updated on Tuesday, August 22, 2006}