# data[].attributes.body
depression can cause episodes of tearfulness or angry outbursts, increase your anxiety, loss of intrest and activities, fixation on death and suicidal thoughts. you may also have insomnia or sleeping too much, and loosing or gaining a large amount of body weight. depression can be found in children in between the ages 6 and 18. Of people diagnosed with MDD, 85% suffer from at least one additional chronic health condition. Teenagers are at high risk for depression, especially in women. between 80 to 90 percent of people diagnosed with depression respond positively to treatment.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In many cases, problems that contribute to suicide are also known factors of depression. Suicide is the tenth-leading cause of death in the United States, claiming the lives of 45,000 people in 2016 alone. The increase has been highest for white males, accounting for seven out of ten suicides.

# data[].attributes.body
a friend being there for someone so their not alone.

# data[].attributes.body
ways to help

# data[].attributes.body
it feels never ending and the clock just keeps ticking

# data[].attributes.body
the article is about a girl who lost her brother and father to suicide caused by depression. The father shot himself on christmas day while alone in the garage. After his death the mother/wife, when being interviewed, described her husband as "dark' and "always unhappy. she never thought to do anything about it because she didn't think anything was serious. later on the son found the same gun that his father had used and shot himself. the son and father never had a good relationship, which could be a reason of why this happened.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Suicide, edited by Leslie A. Miller and Paul A. Rose, Greenhaven Press, 2000. Current Controversies. Opposing Viewpoints in Context, http%3A%2F%2Flink.galegroup.com%2Fapps%2Fdoc%2FEJ3010064212%2FOVIC%3Fu%3Dpl2683%26sid%3DOVIC%26xid%3D9af5d1c4. Accessed 27 Feb. 2019. Originally published as "Depression ... Depression ... Depression!" Surviving Suicide, vol. 10, no. 1, Spring 1998.

# data[].attributes.body
this article is about how to deal with depression. this article tells you what depression is and the symptoms of it. in this article they have a paragraph on how depression is caused. depression is usually caused by genetic factors. the article gave an example of therapy (CBT) an how it helps a person with depression. the article tells us ways to deal with depression.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Depression is a disorder that is evidenced by excessive sadness, loss of interest in enjoyable things, and low motivation.

It is normal to experience feelings of sadness and despair in response to adverse life events. Such events could include loss, major life changes, stress, or disappointment. In most cases, the sad feelings resolve as you come to terms with the changes in your life. In situations such as bereavement, these feelings may persist for months and return at significant times, such as birthdays and anniversaries related to the lost loved one. Provided you have times when you can enjoy things, however, this sadness is not a sign of depression.

Depression is common. One in three people will experience a major depressive episode at some stage in their lives. While most cases of depression are mild, about one person in ten will have a moderate or severe episode.

Sign up to our mailing list to receive a free guide to boosting motivation.

What Are The Signs Of Depression?

The features of depression include:

No one knows exactly what causes depression. It is clear that genetic factors are important in many cases of depression. Depression seems to run in families (as do other mood disorders), and about 30% of the predisposition for depression is due to genetic influences.

Stressful life events play a part in the onset or relapse of depression. Ongoing conflicts with others can take their toll on our well-being, as can other social and environmental stressors such as financial difficulties, retirement, unemployment, childbirth, loneliness, or loss of someone or something important. In vulnerable people, these unpleasant life events may be enough to cause or worsen a depressive illness.

A person's personality characteristics are an important factor. When people are depressed, they usually have a very negative view of themselves and the world. They do not appreciate good things, and bad things seem overwhelming. Some people have a tendency to view things this way even when they are not depressed. In other words, they may have a depressive personality style.

Another possible cause of depression that should not be overlooked is physical illness or medications. Glandular fever, influenza, hepatitis, thyroid hormones, anaemia, diabetes, birth control pills, alcohol and other substances of abuse, or other medications such as those for heart or blood pressure conditions, may all cause symptoms of depression.

How To Deal With Depression

There are a range of ways to deal with depression, and often they are best used in conjunction with each other. The primary medical options are Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), antidepressant medication, and in some severe cases, Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT). Education and coping strategies are also important when learning to manage your depression.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is an excellent treatment for depression, alone or in conjunction with medication. CBT involves learning:

Techniques for problem solving are also taught whether the problem is a consequence or cause of the depression. CBT is very effective and 80% of people with mild, moderate or severe depression improve.

CBT will often be recommended when:

Behavioural Strategies:

A key feature of depression is inactivity. People find that they are doing less and then feel even worse because they are doing less. Behavioural strategies for depression aim to identify and change aspects of behaviour that may worsen depression. People are encouraged to act against the depression by increasing activities, even though this is the last thing that they feel like doing. Relevant behavioural strategies include activity scheduling, social skills training, structured problem solving, and goal planning. One of the advantages of this form of treatment for depression is that once acquired, these new behavioural styles can be applied throughout life, minimising relapse or recurrence of depression.

Cognitive Strategies:

People who are depressed will usually show a style of thinking that focuses on negative views of the world. They often think of themselves as worthless and of the world as being a bad or unfair place, and they are without hope that their lives will improve in the future. When something bad happens, they blame themselves, but when good things happen, they tell themselves they are just lucky. Furthermore, people with depression are less likely to recognize and appreciate positive events when they happen; rather, they tend to be more tuned into the bad things in their lives and brood over those events.

The aim of a cognitive approach is to help people identify and correct their distorted and negatively biased thoughts. This approach identifies and challenges underlying assumptions and beliefs. With encouragement to reframe the way they think about life, people are able to recover from failures more effectively and to recognise and take credit for the good things in their lives. People learn that they have some control over what happens to them. As with behavioural strategies, having these skills reduces relapse and recurrence of depression.

Medication

For some people, antidepressant medication will be the first line of treatment for the elimination of severely depressed mood. It would be unadvisable to manage very severe depression without a trial of medication. For mild to moderate depression, antidepressant medications are not often recommended as a first line treatment.

Different antidepressant medications work in different ways. You may need to trial more than one type to find the medication that works best for you. Make sure to keep in close contact with your prescribing physician during the early stages of taking medication, as the side effects can often be difficult to deal with.

Some things to remember when taking antidepressant medication are:

ECT involves the application of a brief electric current to carefully selected sites on the scalp. These electric currents, which are administered by a psychiatrist and anaesthetist, produce a minor seizure in the brain. Prior to the procedure, the person is given a short-acting general anaesthetic and a muscle relaxant to reduce awareness of the procedure and to prevent a physical seizure.

Although many people are fearful of ECT, this technique is arguably the safest and most effective medical treatment for severe depression although there can be some memory related side effects. ECT is more rapid in its effect than antidepressant drugs, and CBT and antidepressants remain useful adjuncts to treatment since they can help prevent relapse after ECT is completed.

Coping With The Symptoms Of Depression

The symptoms of depression can be addressed to help you feel better. Here are some ways to deal with these symptoms.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Depression is a disorder that is evidenced by excessive sadness, loss of interest in enjoyable things, and low motivation. It is normal to experience feelings of sadness and despair in response to adverse life events. Such events could include loss, major life changes, stress, or disappointment.

# data[].attributes.body
this article can give examples of how to recieve help with depression. this article shows people signs of saddened for those who don't know if someone they know is depressed. it gives you the " Do's and Don'ts" of what to do and not to do with someone who is depressed. the article gives nice tips to use to help out with someone with depression.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
PsyCom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
"Ed hasn't been himself in months," Lynn said to me, worry etched in her voice. She continued, "He has no interest in anything. He just sits and watches TV. It's so unlike him. But every time I ask if he's okay, he insists he's fine and I should stop worrying."

Lynn was right to be concerned. According to a report by The Centre for Economic Performance's Mental Health Policy Group ¹, "on average a person with depression is at least 50% more disabled than someone with angina, arthritis, asthma or diabetes." Yet someone with a physical illness typically reaches out for help while a depressed person often isolates rather than seeking help.

Signs Your Loved One is in a Bad Place Emotionally

First, know what symptoms you are looking for. Years back, well before I became a therapist a close friend was clearly exhibiting signs of depression but her husband and I didn't know what to look for; just that something was "off." We thought she'd snap back and soon be herself, but it took Ann saying she was going to down an entire bottle of sleeping pills for us to realize she was in serious trouble.

Be concerned if your loved one:

Feels hopeless, negative, cannot voice one positive aspect of life

Experiences persistent sadness or feelings of emptiness versus occasional low moods

Has difficulty sleeping or is constantly sleeping; is unable to eat or constantly eating

Has pronounced lack of energy and /or difficulty focusing

Is irritable

Shows no interest in previously enjoyable activities

Expresses a wish to be dead

Expresses a desire to kill him or herself

If your loved one is not only expressing suicidal thoughts but has also created a plan to commit suicide and/or is talking about giving away his or her belongings, you cannot delay. Immediate help is needed. Call 911 or 1-800-SUICIDE or 1-800-273-TALK.

Do's and Don'ts

If the situation is not urgent then do not take away his or her autonomy. Rather, take these steps.
Timing is Important
Which is the best place to have a sensitive conversation with someone who is emotionally fragile?

1. At a crowded restaurant where the tables are jammed together and there is no privacy

2. When the two of you have privacy and no distractions (i.e: children underfoot), looming deadlines or appointments.

Okay, the choices above were pretty exaggerated but the point is clear. The two of you should be alone and fairly relaxed.

Be Empathetic, Not judgmental

Remember in Moonstruck when Cher said to a besotted Nicolas Cage, "Snap out of it." Well, a depressed person needs to have his or her feelings validated, not belittled or otherwise called into question.

Be gentle and use "I" statements - such as "I love you very much. You are a very special person to me and I am concerned that everything is not okay."

It is quite possible your loved one will react defensively, so work hard to not get offended but to stay loving and supportive. Say something like, "I think you are one of the kindest, smartest, loyal people I know and it feels like you are going through a rough patch and I'd like to help you the way you would help me."

Show Your Knowledge About Depression

A depressed person may not be aware he or she is ill - and that the illness likely is treatable. It can be helpful to share a symptom list of depression so that your loved one can recognize what is going on. You might say something like, "Some of the things that are concerning to me is that you haven't gone to the gym in over a month, and you usually go three times a week."

If you have personal positive experience with therapy, you can bring that up, or start a conversation about the unfortunate stigma around mental health and going to therapy.

Offer to Do Legwork

The task of finding a therapist can feel overwhelming even without being crippled by the paralysis of depression. You can do some research to find a few potential therapists and offer to accompany your loved one to the first session.

You can use an online directory to find a therapist based on your location, insurance, and language, and can see which conditions each mental health professional specializes in.

If money is an issue (it is certainly often used as an excuse), if possible you can offer to pay for the therapy or to help your loved one find an affordable therapist. A lot of therapists offer a sliding scale, which means that they will charge you a fee that works for you. Some therapists even take on a number of clients for free as part of an ethics code that says they will provide some services pro bono as a gesture of good will.

Be Patient

Keep in mind that finding the right therapist can often take time and that it's fine to meet with several different mental health professionals until your loved one feels like they can connect with that person. Don't be afraid to ask for complimentary consultations by phone or by Skype as you are going through this process, as some therapists will spend half an hour on the phone with you for free.

A hard as it is to see someone you care deeply about suffer, unless the person is in serious danger of self-harm all you can do is be encouraging and let him or her know your love and support are unconditional, and you will be there every step of the way.

*All patients' names are changed

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to Convince Someone You Care About to Get Help for Depression

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
"Ed hasn't been himself in months," Lynn said to me, worry etched in her voice. She continued, "He has no interest in anything. He just sits and watches TV. It's so unlike him. But every time I ask if he's okay, he insists he's fine and I should stop worrying."

# data[].attributes.body
symptoms of depression and ways to help you get through i

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Depression Symptoms & Help : Ways to Get Rid of Depression

# data[].attributes.body
depression weighs you down in activities, normal everyday things, etc.

# data[].attributes.body
if people don't do something about depression, it might not end well for them

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What happens if people don't receive treatment for depression?

# data[].attributes.body
doctors are over diagnosing people with depression which can slow down treatments for people who really need the treatment. there was a giant increase in depression diagnosesses. some people are just sad and its temporary, but there's the people who have depression and need help. because of there high increase with depression, people are getting treated when they don't need to and the ones that need it aren't getting treated because of the other people that "have" depression.

# data[].attributes.body
how to help, how you can tell, and what depression is

# data[].attributes.body
this article gives signs and symptoms and ways to help with depression. the article gives symptoms of depression, tells you ways to get them encouraged to get help. gives you good examples on how to help or talk to someone with depression. the article also has a short paragraph of how to take care of yourself when helping someone with depression, to make sure you keep up with your own needs too.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.provider_name
PsyCom.net - Mental Health Treatment Resource Since 1986

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Helping a friend or loved one with depression can be challenging. For many people with depression, the symptoms are severe enough to cause problems with day-to-day activities (e.g., attending school or getting to work each day), but others might feel miserable or overwhelmed without knowing why. If someone in your life has depression, whether or not that person has a diagnosis, you might feel at a loss for how to best support that person.

The most important step toward helping a loved one with depression is to understand the symptoms. The course of major depressive disorder is variable, and symptoms vary from person to person. Familiarizing yourself with the possible symptoms will help you better understand what your loved one is experiencing.

Article continues below

Symptoms of major depressive disorder

The essential feature of a major depressive episode is a period of at least two weeks marked by either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure in nearly all activities. In children and adolescents, the mood is more likely to present as irritable than sad.

Other symptoms can include the following:

Feelings of sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness

Angry outbursts and irritability

Insomnia or hypersomnia

Loss of interest in normal daily activities (sports, interests, even sexual activity)

Significant weight loss or weight gain due to changes in appetite

Psychomotor agitation (restlessness) or retardation (slowed down)

Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day

Difficulty thinking or concentrating or indecisiveness nearly every day

Recurrent thoughts of death, recurrent thoughts of suicide, or a suicide attempt or suicide plan

Symptoms cause impairment in social and occupational functioning

Encourage treatment

People with depression might not acknowledge that they're struggling. Lack of awareness about symptoms of depression can cause people to consider their feelings normal or dismiss them as a time-limited struggle. The stigma of seeking treatment for depression can also cause people to attempt to overcome treatment independently.

Depression seldom gets better without treatment, and it can actually worsen over time. Research shows that both antidepressant medications and cognitive therapy are effective in alleviating symptoms. Other treatments include interpersonal therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, and neurofeedback.

It can be difficult to encourage treatment, particularly if the person doesn't acknowledge the depression. It helps to consider some talking points:

Share what you've noticed and talk about why you're concerned.

Suggest a physical with a general practitioner as a first step to rule out any other medical issues that might cause the symptoms

Explain what you've learned about the symptoms of depression and how depression can negatively impact people

Offer to accompany your loved one for the physical and to any other appointments

Help your loved one prepare a list of questions to ask the doctor or psychotherapist

Practice compassionate listening

If your loved one tends to internalize emotions, he or she might feel overwhelmed when you share your concerns about possible symptoms of depression. The best thing you can do in the moment is use compassionate listening. Your loved one's depression is not for you to fix, but being present and listening to your loved one talk can help that person feel heard and understood.

Use these phrases:

I am here for you

You're not alone in this

I might not understand exactly how you feel right now, but I want to help you

Tell me what I can do to help

Avoid using these kinds of phrases:

This is just a phase; it will pass

Everyone feels this way sometimes

Why can't you see the positive?

Snap out of it

The more you think about it, the worse you will feel

Think about all the great things in your life!

More often than not, sitting in silence and use nonverbal cues to communicate support is more helpful than trying to find the perfect words.

Be helpful

Depression can make everyday tasks, like driving and grocery shopping, feel impossible. Ask your loved one how you can help in small ways:

Help schedule appointments

Provide a ride to and from appointments

Grocery shop and do other tasks with your friend

Offer to take walks together a few times a week

Ask if you can help around the house

Offer to go watch movies or get out of the house together

Crisis intervention

The risk of suicide exists at all times during major depressive episodes. The most consistent risk factor is a past history of suicide attempts, but most completed suicides are not preceded by unsuccessful attempts. Living alone, being male, and having prominent feelings of hopelessness also increase the risk of suicide.

If you believe your loved one is at risk of suicide, do not leave that person alone. Dial 9-1-1 and stay with your loved one.

Take care of yourself

Caring for a loved one with depression can be complicated and overwhelming. Be sure to attend to your own personal needs, create appropriate boundaries, and seek help from a therapist or support group.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Caring for Someone with Major Depressive Disorder

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Helping a friend or loved one with depression can be challenging. For many people with depression, the symptoms are severe enough to cause problems with day-to-day activities (e.g., attending school or getting to work each day), but others might feel miserable or overwhelmed without knowing why.