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Depression has Numerous Faces
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 Depression is a misunderstood disease. It affects more than 11 million people- 25 percent of women and 10 percent of men are afflicted during their lifetime. It often goes undetected. Clinical depression has a range of symptoms. Frequently, people associate depression only with frequent crying and overwhelming feelings of sadness.
Yet depression can take many forms. Other symptoms include increased irritability, agitation, inability to experience pleasure and detachment.
In this form, depression creates a robotic feeling of emptiness and restlessness for the individual.
Treatments for depression are successful; more than 80 percent of patients recover. People with clinical depression cannot just "pull themselves out of it."
If you or someone you know has experienced five or more of the following nine symptoms for more then two weeks, request an evaluation:
- Feelings of sadness and/or irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activity.
- Changes in weight or appetite.
- Changes in sleeping patterns.
- Inability to concentrate and/or memory loss.
- Fatigue or loss of energy.
- Thoughts of suicide or death.
Given the stress and difficulties in today's complicated world, each of us are vulnerable to depression. It is essential that each individual monitor symptoms carefully.
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