
True
What Is It?
If you are depressed, you feel a sense of helplessness, hopelessness or despair. You lose interest in your favorite activities, may experience changes in appetite, weight and sleep patterns, have difficulty concentrating and may be preoccupied with death or suicide.
Feelings of sadness can be normal, appropriate and even necessary during life's setbacks or losses. Or you may feel blue or unhappy for short periods without reason or warning, which also is normal and ordinary. But if such feelings persist or impair your daily life, you may have a depressive disorder. Severity, duration and the presence of other symptoms are factors that distinguish ordinary sadness from a depressive disorder.
Depression can happen to anyone of any age, race, class or gender. According to Mental Health America, depression afflicts more than 21 million Americans each year, 12 million of whom are women. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. Many women first experience symptoms of depression during their 20s and 30s. Once you experience depression, there's a 50 percent chance you'll be depressed again. Once you've experienced two episodes, you have a 70 percent chance of being depressed again. And once you've experienced three episodes, you have a 90 percent chance of being depressed again.
A complex combination of physiological, social, environmental, cultural, hormonal, biological and psychological factors may contribute to the reasons why women experience depression at a higher rate than men.
Depression affects both mind and body. If you are depressed, you feel a sense of helplessness, hopelessness or despair. You lose interest in your favorite activities; may experience changes in appetite, weight and sleep patterns; have difficulty concentrating; and may be preoccupied with death or suicide.
Additionally, depression often occurs in conjunction with certain chronic illnesses, like diabetes, and after a heart attack or stroke. Research suggests that depression is a risk factor for the development of coronary artery disease and may even be a major risk factor for osteoporosis. It also can develop as a result of conditions that cause unrelieved pain. Left untreated, depression contributes to increased complications, prolonged recovery time and a greater chance of death.
The good news is that depression is a treatable illness. Yet, 10 to 30 percent of people treated for a major depressive episode will have an incomplete recovery, with persistent symptoms of depression or dysthymia.
One reason that treatment for depression is inadequate is that many people do not know or are confused about where to seek mental health treatment. Another reason is that many individuals do not perceive depression as a real medical condition that should or could be treated. Also, there is still a social stigma attached to mental illnesses like depression. These perceptions are wrong. Depression is a potentially life-threatening disorder, and anyone suffering from its debilitating symptoms deserves to have it treated.
Types of Depression
Depression is classified as a mood disorder. The primary types of depression are:
Major depression: Major depression is marked by a combination of symptoms that interfere with life activities, such as work, sleep and eating, as well as a loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities. The depressed mood represents a change from previous behavior or mood and has lasted for at least two consecutive weeks.
Dysthymia: This is a form of chronic but low-grade depression marked by low energy, a general negativity and a sense of dissatisfaction and hopelessness. A person suffering from dysthymia may experience many of the same symptoms that occur in major depression, but they are less intense and last much longer—at least two years. If you suffer from dysthymia, you may not feel good, but you aren't as disabled as during an episode of major depression. However, sometimes women with dysthymia also suffer from episodes of major depression, a condition known as double depression.
Postpartum depression (PPD): While the "baby blues" are common in many women within the first few days or weeks following pregnancy and childbirth, they are temporary. However, for some women these symptoms become more severe and long-lasting. This is known as postpartum depression. The condition typically occurs within a month after the baby is born. About 10 to 15 percent of women report diagnosable postpartum depression after giving birth. If you've had prior depressive episodes, you have a much higher risk of developing postpartum depression. Postpartum depression can seriously interfere with your ability to care for yourself and your child. You should report any symptoms immediately to your health care professional for further evaluation.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): The syndrome of more severe depression, irritability and tension occurring seven to 14 days prior to the start of the menstrual period is known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), also called late-luteal phase dysphoric disorder. It affects 3 to 8 percent of women of childbearing age. Though PMDD shares many of the characteristics of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), particularly the timing of the symptoms, there are differences between the two. When diagnosing PMDD, the focus is more on the mood-related symptoms than physical symptoms because the mood-related symptoms are significantly more severe in PMDD than in PMS. Experts say the difference between PMDD and PMS is similar to the difference between a mild tension headache and a migraine.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD): Also called winter depression, SAD is a form of depression that affects an estimated 10 to 20 percent of Americans when both its mild and severe forms are considered. Women are more likely than men to suffer from SAD. The key feature of SAD is your response to less light during the winter months. Experts believe that brain chemistry in some people is affected by diminished daylight, triggering depression at this time of the year. However, it is episodic—it comes and goes—and many people who experience SAD recover in the spring. These people, however, have an increased risk of developing bipolar disorder, another form of depression.
Bipolar disorder: This form of depression is sometimes called manic-depressive illness. Not nearly as prevalent as other forms of depressive disorders, bipolar disorder is characterized by intense episodes of elation and despair, with any combination of mood experiences in between, including periods of normal moods. When in the depressed phase, an individual can have any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. Symptoms during the manic phase include a decreased need for sleep, increased talkativeness, racing thoughts and increased activity, including sexual activity, excessive spending or having a great deal of energy. Sometimes manic episodes may include extreme irritability. Women who are bipolar may have more episodes of depression than mania.
Researchers are unclear about the specific causes of depression. An imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine, may be partly responsible. Low levels of folate may also contribute. Also, some people may have a genetic predisposition to depression; that means your family history puts you at risk.
If you have a history of substance abuse, or physical or sexual abuse, you are particularly at risk for depression. Also, women who are separated or divorced, living in poverty or married with young children at home are more vulnerable to depression than other women.
Because depression is so common, your primary health care professional should ask you about any symptoms of depression you may be experiencing during any comprehensive physical examination. Keep in mind that although primary care physicians are qualified to treat depression, they may not be the best choice of provider in all cases, particularly if the depression is severe. And women themselves may be unable to sense or admit to their own depression.
If your primary health care professional suspects a depressive disorder, he or she may request a consultation with a mental health specialist such as a psychiatrist, clinical social worker or clinical psychologist. To assess your mental health, a health care professional may ask you questions like:
Untreated episodes of major or acute depression last an average of about six months. At least five of the symptoms below must occur for a period of at least two consecutive weeks, and they must represent a change from previous behavior or mood, to receive a diagnosis of major or acute depression.
How to Tell the Difference Between Depression and Other Mood-Related Conditions
The symptoms of grief or bereavement mimic those of depression in many ways, but if you are grieving, you experience a succession of emotions over a period of three to six months that lead to a recovery period. Severe grief lasting longer than six months affects your health and increases your risk for ongoing depression, however. Some experts suggest that this severe persistent grieving state be categorized as a separate psychological diagnosis termed complicated grief disorder, which would be related to post-traumatic stress syndrome and require special treatment.
Dysthymia (chronic, low-grade depression) is marked by the same symptoms as major depression but is not usually accompanied by changes in appetite or sexual drive, and severe agitation, sedentary behavior and suicidal thoughts are not usually present. Possibly because of the duration of the symptoms, you may not exhibit marked changes in mood or daily functioning. However, treatment for dysthymia is important because it is effective and prevents a lifetime of sadness.
As the days get shorter, people with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) get increasingly tired and lethargic and have difficulty concentrating. You may also experience a craving for carbohydrates and sweets. Your appetite increases, often resulting in weight gain, and as the winter darkens you may become socially withdrawn and despondent. The exact causes of SAD are unclear. One theory is that serotonin, a chemical in the brain widely believed to play a major role in depression, is triggered by sunlight and falls to its lowest level during the winter months. If you are affected by SAD, you may have less serotonin available or be less able to handle the decrease than those unaffected by the disorder.
Like other forms of depression, the causes of postpartum depression have not been pinpointed, but both psychologic and neurochemical influences are suspected. Women who experience postpartum depression very often have had problems with depression prior to pregnancy. Also, if you experience premenstrual syndrome (PMS), you may be more susceptible to varying degrees of postpartum depression. Another significant risk factor is lack of social support for the mother and baby. The stress involved with adjustment to a new baby; being unprepared and subsequently overwhelmed by the baby's birth; a difficult birthing experience; a sick or colicky infant; and exhaustion may also contribute. Symptoms of postpartum depression include:
The most severe form of postpartum depression can include intense, suicidal and homicidal thoughts and/or postpartum psychosis. Only about one woman in 1,000 experiences this serious form of postpartum depression following childbirth.
The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) are similar to those of major depressive disorder but subside with the onset of menstruation. They include: a markedly depressed mood, decreased interest in usual activities, lethargy, fatigue or lack of energy, insomnia and hypersomnia (sleeping too much). A diagnosis of PMDD requires that these symptoms occur during most menstrual cycles, get worse seven to 14 days before the menstrual period begins and improve once it starts or soon afterward.
If you aren't sure whether to seek help for a mood disorder or emotional problem, ask yourself, "Could I use some help right now?" The questions below may help you decide:
If you answered yes to any of these questions, talk to your health care professional about how you are feeling.
Left untreated, depression can be devastating—an estimated 1 percent of women and 7 percent of men with a lifetime history of depression will eventually commit suicide. What's more, depression is known to play a major role in exacerbating existing medical conditions and may even predispose people to develop other illnesses. Depression may have adverse effects on the immune system, blood clotting, blood pressure, blood vessels and heart rhythms.
Unfortunately, many people who suffer from depression do not seek help. They believe that nothing can help, or that they can simply cure themselves. Many women and their families don't understand that depression is a medical illness. Many mothers struggling with postpartum depression don't seek help because they feel guilty, believing that they shouldn't be sad now that they have a baby. Furthermore, because some symptoms of depression are common to other medical illnesses, depression is often misdiagnosed. The tragedy of this is that in the last few decades, treatments have emerged that can lead to recovery for most sufferers.
With accurate diagnosis and proper treatment, you can learn how depression affects your life and get the help you need to be productive again. In fact, 80 percent of individuals who are depressed recover with appropriate treatment.
Reaching out for help is a wise step when you can't spring back from sad or depressed moods or when emotional difficulties begin to interfere with work, relationships or other aspects of your life. But it's often difficult to seek help because depression typically robs your motivation and energy.
The single most important function your health care professional can perform is to distinguish between mild and severe depression. If your depression is mild, you may need an antidepressant and/or a referral to a clinical psychologist or social worker for counseling. If your depression is severe, however, you may need to see a specialist such as a psychiatrist, who can determine the treatment. Although primary care physicians are qualified to treat depression, they may not be the best choice of provider in severe cases. No matter what type of health care professional you are seeing for your depression, it's important that you communicate honestly about your illness, your current treatment and other treatment options. Though it can be challenging, you can find another medical professional if you are not satisfied with the care you're receiving.
Psychotherapy
Most cases of major depression can be successfully treated with psychotherapy, medication (known as antidepressants) or both. Depression often improves within a few months of starting psychotherapy.
Psychotherapy focuses on changing negative thinking and behaviors and/or unhealthy relationships that can contribute to depression. Talking to a psychological counselor can provide relief, lead to new insights and help replace unhealthy behaviors with more effective ways of coping with problems. Most mental health professionals tailor their approach to the needs, problems and personality of the person seeking help, and they may combine different techniques. The various types of psychotherapy include:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy have been shown in clinical trials to work as well as antidepressant drugs for treating mild cases of depression, although they take longer than medication to achieve results.
Other therapies are available, but most haven't been proven effective in treating depression. These include:
Medications
If you have major or chronic depression, you may be prescribed an antidepressant.
Antidepressants are thought to alter the action and distribution of brain chemicals and can be effective in bringing mood, appetite, energy level, outlook and sleep patterns back to normal. About 80 percent of people with major depression will improve with good compliance and adequate doses of the right antidepressant drug.
To reduce or avoid side effects, you may be started on low doses that increase over time. You and your health care professional should first thoroughly discuss your medical history, including the presence of any emotional disorders in family members, and assess your overall health to rule out any illnesses that might be causing your psychiatric symptoms. You should also weigh the benefits and risks of the medication with input from your health care professional. While current antidepressants are not addictive, virtually all have side effects and sometimes serious interactions with other drugs. You should inform your health care professional of any drugs you take, including over-the-counter medications and herbal remedies.
If you have never been treated for depression, your medications will probably be maintained for six months or longer after your depression improves. Some women, however, may require a longer time or even indefinite maintenance therapy. Note: According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there is an increased suicide risk associated with antidepressants. If you begin to feel like hurting yourself or killing yourself, or someone close to you notices a drastic change in your behavior, be sure to get in touch with your health care provider or call a suicide hotline for help and guidance right away.
Medications used to treat depression include:
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are now usually the first-line treatment of major depression. They are thought to work by blocking a pump mechanism in the brain that normally moves serotonin back into brain cells. Blocking this action temporarily increases the level of serotonin outside brain cells, especially in the specialized connection zones (synapses) between the brain cells. Because they act on serotonin specifically, SSRIs have fewer side effects than tricyclic antidepressants, which affect a number of chemicals in the body. Commonly prescribed SSRIs include fluoxetine (Prozac, Sarafem), sertraline (Zoloft), paroxetine (Paxil), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa) and escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro).
People taking SSRIs report not only relief of depressive symptoms, but also a higher level of efficiency, energy and better relationships.
Some people may notice an improvement of their symptoms within two weeks of taking an SSRI; in others, it can take up to eight weeks. If you don't respond to your medication after eight weeks, tell your health care professional. He or she may adjust the dosage or try another SSRI. Escitalopram oxalate (Lexapro), the newest antidepressant in its class, appears to offer some advantages over some other SSRIs in the treatment of depression: higher potency and lower incidence of side effects. Additionally, the drug is approved for the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder.
The most common side effects of SSRIs are nausea and gastrointestinal problems. Other possible side effects include anxiety, drowsiness, sweating, headache, difficulty sleeping and mild tremor. All usually wear off over time. During the first few weeks of treatment, some people lose a small amount of weight but, in general, they regain it. Sexual dysfunction, including delay or loss of orgasm and low sexual drive, occurs in up to 50 percent or more of people and is a major reason people quit taking their medicine. However, these side effects can usually be managed or reduced with a different medication or by prescribing an additional medication.
More rarely, SSRIs may cause bruising or bleeding in those who are predisposed to bleeding, such as the elderly. SSRIs can also cause dry mouth, which increases the risk of oral health problems. You can increase salivation by chewing sugarless gum, using saliva substitutes and frequently rinsing your mouth.
Some people taking SSRIs report a group of side effects known as extrapyramidal symptoms, which are similar to those in Parkinson's disease and affect the nerves and muscles controlling movement and coordination. They are very uncommon, however. If they develop, it tends to be in the first month of treatment.
Contact your health care professional if you experience any bothersome side effects. Don't discontinue your medication without guidance from a health care professional who is familiar with your health history.
Also, if you are taking an SSRI and are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, discuss potential risks with your health care professional as soon as possible. To date, studies on the risks of SSRIs during pregnancy have had mixed results, in part depending on the specific medication.
Some people experience withdrawal symptoms when stopping an antidepressant. Therefore, when discontinuing an antidepressant, you should gradually withdraw under your health care professional's supervision.
Other treatment options
Other treatments for depression include:
You should start feeling better within about four to 10 weeks of starting drug therapy. If you do not experience any relief within that time, talk to your health care professional or therapist or seek a second opinion. A change in your therapy approach, medication or dosage may make a significant difference. Psychiatrists with an expertise in drug therapy can usually find a medication that works even if it means switching drugs several times.
Sometimes a physician may write a prescription but not follow up to see if it's working or if the dosage is correct. You should continue to communicate with your health care professional so that an effective, tolerable dosage can be established.
While your health care professional will most likely begin treatment with psychotherapy and/or antidepressants or other medications, there are other treatments for depression, including:
Self-help strategies play an important role in maintaining mental health. Among the most useful are:
The Holiday Blues
The holidays are a stressful time of year for many people. The "holiday blues" are a common response to the additional responsibilities the holiday season can impose. Additionally, you may feel loss more acutely during the holidays as you remember loved ones who have died.
Symptoms of the holiday blues can include feeling overwhelmed, anxious or angry; crying spells; withdrawal; or self-medicating with food or alcohol. While these symptoms can be similar to those experienced by someone who is clinically depressed, they are temporary. Depression is not. If holiday blues become incapacitating and/or persist for two or more weeks, professional help is advised. Some simple interventions can help you prepare for the holiday hustle, minimize stress and keep the holidays healthy:
Review the following Questions to Ask about depression so you're prepared to discuss this important health issue with your health care professional.
Anyone can suffer from depression at any time, but certain people are more susceptible to this illness. Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. After one bout of depression, a woman's chance of having another episode increases by 50 percent, after two depressive episodes, she has a 70 percent chance of experiencing a third, and after three episodes, she has a 90 percent chance of experiencing a fourth. Depression seems to run in families. Prolonged stress, abuse, illness, drug and alcohol use, certain medications and significant losses can trigger depression, especially in those individuals at higher risk for developing it.
Yes. Two of the most common types of depression are major depression (also known as clinical depression) and dysthymia. Each type of depression shares similar symptoms, but these vary in intensity and duration. Symptoms of major depression include a disruption of normal sleeping and eating patterns and an increase in negative feelings or thoughts. Dysthymia is a chronic but less severe type of depression. However, its symptoms can be equally disabling. A person with dysthymia may feel that she never quite functions at her full potential or never quite feels "good." Dysthymia can also occur with major depression, which is a condition sometimes referred to as "double depression."
Depression, like other medical illnesses, has a specific set of criteria that medical professionals use to make a diagnosis. Here are a few of the symptoms of depression:
Most health experts agree that the best way to treat depression is with a combination of psychotherapy and medication called antidepressants. Psychotherapy consists of discussing possible causes for certain feelings and behaviors with a trained professional, such as a psychiatrist, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse specialist, clergy with specialized training, social worker or counselor, and developing strategies for resolving the feelings. Antidepressants work by correcting the imbalance of certain brain chemicals.
The newer antidepressants, called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) cause fewer side effects than the older types of drugs used to treat depression. Antidepressant medication can cause side effects such as nausea, drowsiness, gastrointestinal upset, anxiety and insomnia, which may subside after your body adjusts to the medication after about a month. Sexual dysfunction (impotence, loss of desire, inability to reach orgasm) is a possible side effect from SSRIs. In some cases, other medication may be prescribed to lessen these symptoms or another type of SSRI may be suggested.Some people make the mistake of stopping the medication when they first start to experience side effects or without speaking to their health care professional about the side effects. Because many types of antidepressants are available, it is likely that one can be identified that produces fewest side effects with best results.Most people don't have to take antidepressants forever. Once your depression subsides, you can determine with your health care team what the best course is for you. Short-term treatment, from six months to one year, is common. But, longer treatment may be necessary to prevent a recurrence. People who have recurrent depression may need to take antidepressants for the rest of their lives.
The "baby blues" refers to the short period of time after a woman delivers a baby when she may feel tearful, fatigued and overwhelmed. These feelings can last for a week or two and typically subside once the woman is more rested and hormones related to pregnancy and delivery become more balanced. The "baby blues" are not considered clinical depression; however, postpartum depression is a form of depression that affects some women after they deliver. It is different from the "baby blues" because it lasts longer than six weeks and significantly disables the mother, greatly interfering with her relationship with her baby and other members of her family. The symptoms of postpartum depression are the same as symptoms of other forms of depression.
For information and support on coping with Depression, please see the recommended organizations, books and Spanish-language resources listed below.
American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
Website: https://www.aacap.org
Address: 3615 Wisconsin Ave., NW
Washington, DC 20016-3007
Phone: 202-966-7300
American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy
Website: https://www.aamft.org
Address: 112 South Alfred Street, Suite 3000
Alexandria, VA 22314-3061
Phone: 703-838-9808
Email: central@aamft.org
American Association of Suicidology
Website: https://www.suicidology.org
Address: 5221 Wisconsin Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20015
Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
Phone: 202-237-2280
Email: info@suicidology.org
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Website: https://afsp.org/
Address: 199 Water St.
New York, NY 10038
Hotline: 1-888-333-AFSP (2377)
Phone: 212- 363-3500
Email:info@afsp.org
American Psychological Association
Website: https://www.apa.org
Address: 750 First St., NE
Washington, DC 20002
Hotline: 1 -800-374-2721
Phone: 202-336-5500
Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
Website: https://www.abct.org
Address: 305 7th Avenue, 16th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Phone: 212 647-1890
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)
Website: https://www.dbsalliance.org
Address: 730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Chicago, IL 60610
Hotline: 1-800-826-3632
Email: info@dbsalliance.org
Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
Website: https://www.ffcmh.org
Address: 9605 Medical Center Drive, Suite 280
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 240-403-1901
Email: ffcmh@ffcmh.org
Freedom From Fear
Website: https://www.freedomfromfear.org
Address: 308 Seaview Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10305
Phone: 718-351-1717
Email: help@freedomfromfear.org
Geriatric Mental Health Foundation
Website: https://www.gmhfonline.org
Address: 7910 Woodmont Ave, Suite 1050
Bethesda, MD 20814
Phone: 301-654-7850
Email: web@GMHFonline.org
Mental Health America
Website: https://www.mentalhealthamerica.net
Address: 2000 N. Beauregard Street, 6th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22311
Hotline: 1-800-969-6642
Phone: 703-684-7722
Mindwise Innovations
Website: https://www.mindwise.org/
Address: 270 Bridge Street Suite 205
Dedham MA, 02026
Phone: 781-239-0071
Email:info@mindwise.org
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Website: https://www.nami.org
Address: Colonial Place Three
2107 Wilson Blvd., Suite 300
Arlington, VA 22201
Hotline: 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264)
Phone: 703-524-7600
National Institute of Mental Health
Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov
Address: Science Writing, Press and Dissemination Branch
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892
Hotline: 1-866-615-6464
Phone: 301-443-4513
Email: nimhinfo@nih.gov
National Mental Health Consumers' Self-Help Clearinghouse
Website: https://www.mhselfhelp.org
Address: 1211 Chestnut St., Suite 1207
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hotline: 1-800-553-4539
Phone: 215-751-1810
Email: info@mhselfhelp.org
Postpartum Support International
Website: https://www.postpartum.net
Address: P.O. Box 60931
Santa Barbara, CA 93160
Hotline: 1-800-944-4PPD (1-800-944-4773)
Phone: 805-967-7636
Email: psioffice@postpartum.net
SAMHSA's National Mental Health Information Center
Website: https://mentalhealth.gov/
Address: P.O. Box 2345
Rockville, MD 20847
Hotline: 1-800-789-2647
Phone: 240-221-4021
Books
10 Steps to Take Charge of Your Emotional Life: Overcoming Anxiety, Distress, and Depression Through Whole-Person Healing
by Dr. Eve A. Wood M.D.
50 Signs of Mental Illness: A Guide to Understanding Mental Health
by Dr. James Whitney Hicks M.D.
The American Medical Association Essential Guide to Depression
by AMA
Healing Depression: A Holistic Guide
by Catherine Carrigan , M.D. William G. Crook M.D. M.D., William G. Crook
How You Can Survive When They're Depressed - Living and Coping with Depression Fallout
by Anne Sheffield, Mike Wallace, Donald F. Klein
Living Well with a Hidden Disability: Transcending Doubt and Shame and Reclaiming Your Life
by Stacy Taylor, Robert Epstein
My Feelings Are Like Wild Animals! How Do I Tame Them?: A Practical Guide to Help Teens (& Former Teens) Feel & Deal with Painful Emotions
by Gary Egeberg
Postpartum Survival Guide
by Ann Dunnewold, Diane G. Sanford
Stop Depression Now: SAM-e, the Breakthrough Supplement That Works Better Than Prescription Antidepressants in Half the Time...With No Side Effects
by Richard Brown, Teodoro Bottiglieri, and Carol Colman
What the Blues Is All About - Black Women Overcoming Stress & Depression
by Angela Mitchell, Kennise Herring
Win the Battle: The 3-Step Lifesaving Formula to Conquer Depression and Bipolar Disorder
by Bob Olson
Women & Anxiety: A Step-by-Step Program for Managing Anxiety and Depression
by Helen DeRosis
Spanish-language resources
National Institute of Mental Health
Website: https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/espanol/depression-listing.shtml
Address: NIMH
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892
Hotline: 1-866-615-6464
Phone: 301-443-4513
Medline Plus: Depression
Website: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/depression.html
Address: Customer Service
US National Library of Medicine
8600 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20894
Email: custserv@nlm.nih.gov
Womenshealth.gov
Website: https://espanol.womenshealth.gov/mental-health/mental-health-conditions/postpartum-depression
Address: National Women's Health Information Center
8270 Willow Oaks Corporate Drive
Fairfax, VA 22031
Hotline: 1-800-994-9662
HealthyWomen content is for informational purposes only. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
The change in daylight hours can leave people feeling depressed. For some, it can be more than just unhappiness — it can be seasonal affective disorder. Find out how you can treat SAD.
The breakthrough therapy helps your brain heal itself