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Major Depressive Disorder

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Depression isn't something that can just be dismissed as "the blues" or a slump in your mood. It's a real disorder that affects your lifestyle, health, happiness and productivity. Major depressive disorder (MDD) is also known as clinical depression, major depression, unipolar depression and recurrent depressive disorder and should be treated as soon as it is recognized. Signs of this disorder include feelings of sadness, loss, anger or frustration that you can't seem to snap out of and interferes with daily activities that you normally enjoy.

Signs Of Depression

If you know someone with depression, it does no good to tell them to "snap out of it." Depression can be caused by changes in the brain's biochemistry and, in many cases, can only be treated with medication and therapy.

Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder

Agitation, restlessness, chronic irritability
Problems with concentration
Changes in appetite and weight.
Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness
Becoming withdrawn and isolated
Lack of interest in activities you used to enjoy
Thoughts of death and suicide
A disruption in sleep habits, sleeping too much or too little
May be accompanied by attempts to self-medicate with alcohol or drugs.
Severe depression may be accompanied by psychotic episodes or hallucinations.

Suicide Hotline

If you live in the United States of America and are seriously considering harming yourself or others, call 911 or the Suicide Hotline at 1-800-SUICIDE. You can also call 1-800-999-9999.

Treatment For Major Depressive Disorder

Antidepressants like SSRIs (Prozac, Zoloft) or SNRIs (Effexor, Cymbalta) and psychotherapy are preferred methods of treating major depressive disorder. St. John's wort may help with mild depression, but you should consult your doctor before trying it because it can interact with other medications. They may take a few months to have a full effect and can cause side effects, so be sure to contact your doctor if you notice any changes after starting antidepressants.

Other treatments for severe depression include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), more commonly known as electroshock. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) sends pulses of electricity into nerve cells that control mood. Light therapy may help "winter depression" but is not a preferred option.