What is depression?
Depression is an illness that involves the brain. It can affect your thoughts, mood, and daily activities. It is more than feeling sad for a few days.
Depression can be mild or severe. Mild depression can become more serious if it’s not treated.
If you are diagnosed with depression, you aren’t alone. It is a common illness that affects millions of adults in the United States every year.
The good news is that it can be treated. Getting help is the best thing you can do for yourself and your loved ones. You can feel better.
The Basics: Signs of Depression
What are the signs of depression?
It’s normal to feel sad sometimes, but if you feel sad or “down” on most days for more than 2 weeks at a time, you may be depressed.
Depression affects people differently. Some signs are:
- Losing interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Feeling hopeless or empty
- Forgetting things or having trouble making decisions
- Sleeping too much or too little
- Gaining or losing weight without meaning to
- Thinking about suicide or death
The Basics: Treatment
How is depression treated?
Depression can be treated with talk therapy, medicines (called antidepressants), or both. Your doctor may refer you to a mental health professional for talk therapy or medicine.
Take Action: See a Doctor
Depression is a real illness. If you think you might be depressed, see your doctor.
Talk to a doctor about how you are feeling.
Get a medical checkup. Ask to see a doctor or nurse who can screen you.
The doctor or nurse may also check to see if you have another health condition (like thyroid disease) that can cause depression or make it worse. If you have one of these health conditions, it’s important to get treatment right away.
Take Action: Get Treatment
Get treatment for depression.
When you have depression, seeking help is the best thing you can do. Treatment can include talk therapy, medicines, or both.
Ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional. Some programs offer free or low-cost treatment if you don’t have insurance.
Here are some places you can go to for help:
- Doctor’s office or health clinic
- Family service or social service agency
- Psychologist (“sy-KAH-lah-jist”)
- Counselor or social worker
- Psychotherapist (“sy-koh-THAYR-uh-pist”)
Remember, even if asking for help seems scary, it’s an important step toward feeling better.
Take Action: Support for Depression
Get support.
If you have depression, it can also help to reach out for social support. You don’t have to face it alone. A trusted family member, friend, or faith leader can help support you as you seek out medical treatment.
Get active.
Getting active can lower your stress level and help your treatment work better. It can also help keep you from getting depressed again. But it’s important to know that physical activity isn’t a treatment for depression.
If someone you care about is depressed, get help.
If you think a friend or family member may be depressed, talk to them about depression.
Get help right away if you or someone you know is thinking about suicide.
- To get help for yourself or someone else, visit the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255).
- If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
