A few days of feeling sad or depressed does not mean depression. Depression is a very serious disease that can last for years. Studies have show that around 15 million Americans are affected by this illness each and every year. Only about 4.5 million of those people seek help, which is unfortunate. It’s the mental illness stereotypes, things like the crazy eyed old man, that make people think twice before seeking treatment for depression. Of the list of progressive ailments depression is one of the worst. Without attention it will become more and more severe. Ignorance in this case isn’t bliss.
Many things cause 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. It takes a lot of knowledge to address a complex issue like depression. The human mind is very complicated as well. Work continues into the mind and brain and how they work, what makes them tick. A chemical imbalance in the brain causes depression, that’s known. Researches learn more about this complex series of actions and reactions with passing time. Better treatments come from more knowledge.
Depression can be treated with a host of available medications. Quick fix schemes exist too, but they don’t work. 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. It’s good to know that’s no longer the case. The anti-depressant Prozac first came into use in the USA in 1988. It was proven to work, and thus is still prescribed today even though it can have serious side effects.
A new class of anti-depressants has become widely used since then. The SSRI or (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) like Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox are all being used to treat depression today. All have been proven effective but come with varied side effects. The market is also ripe with herbal medications and treatments. The majority of these that have been proven to work as well as the anti-depressants contain the St. John Wort extract ingredient called ‘hyperforin’. When this is present in the proper quantity it is a winner. Research and information are your friends when it comes to the right medications for depression.
