Many college women today feel as though they need to be everything: a straight-A student to land the six-figure job, the perfect girlfriend to get the perfect husband & ideal family, and the president of three different organizations to show the ivy league graduate schools just how much of a superwoman you are. It can become too much. One-fifth of all American women will have a bout of depression and women are twice as likely as men to become depressed. Women of child-bearing age actually have the highest rates of depression. More than 11 million American women become depressed every year and clinical depression is the leading cause of morbidity in women. Depression isn't just a sad mood... it is a biochemical illness.

Symptoms of Depression

• Depressed mood most of the day, nearly every day. Although many people who have depression are not sad at all or may have difficulty putting into words the way they feel.
• Lack of interest or pleasure in your usual avtivities and a lack of motivation. Depression makes it difficult to care about things that used to be important. Even little things seem to be a burden.
• Changes in appetite. People may gain or lose weight as a result of incresed or decreased appetite.
• Sleep problems. Some people cannot fall asleep whereas others may just sleep all the time. Any large variance in usual sleep patterns could signal depression.
• Anxiety or restlessness. People with depression are often restless and anxious to the point of agitation. This can make people less able to deal with even a low level of stress.
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and insecurity. People with depression often feel negatively about themselves and their future. They may also feel guilty about things in the past.
• Difficulty concentrating and thinking clearly. Depression makes it difficult to think clearly and even small decisions are hard to make.
• Thpughts of suicide. Thoughts-and actions-related to death may occur as part of a wish to end pain, suffering, and confusion. If you have feelings of wanting to harm yourself or others, please call 911 or your doctor or go to the nearest Emergency Room or hospital immediately.
  
  

  Causes of Depression

  Depression can have a genetic component, making some people more prone to the disease than others. Depression can also be brought on by any number of factors, working individually or together. Some common triggers may be:

  1. Severe psychological stress. Relationship problems, death in the family, divorce, financial problems.
  2. A physical illness or condition.
  3. Medications. Some cardiovascular drugs, hormones, birth control pills, and even some nonprescription pain remedies may cause or worsen depression.
  4. Alcohol or drug abuse. Can be a cause or an effect of depression.
  
  
  

  Treatment Options

  It is important to be an active participant in your treatment. The first step is to see your doctor or a trusted caregiver to determine what is the best treatment. Treatments may include, but aren't limited to:

  • Prescription medications (ie.antidepressants)
  • Talk therapy
  • Electroconvulsive therapy
  • Lifestyle changes
  
  

  Often a combination of treatments is used.

  
  
  
  
  
  
  

  Info

  

  BY:Colm Mac Cárthaigh
  DATE:1997-12-25
  

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