Depression
We all feel sad and unhappy at times, especially during and after stressful and traumatic events. This is to be expected. When we feel constant and extreme sadness and hopelessness though, it is likely that we have fallen ill to depression. Such an illness can have detrimental effects on our work lives, sense of personal fulfilment and relationships with family and friends.
The video below provides an overview of the physical effects on people suffering from depression.
Depression is more common in Australia than many people realise. It is believed that 1 in 4 men and 1 in 6 women will suffer from depression at some point in their life, and that only 20% of people are diagnosed correctly as the symptoms of depression are also common ailments, such as fatigue, feeling agitated or having trouble concentrating on the task at hand.
The causes of depression are a combination of the internal and external, of various physiological and environmental reasons. It is possible that for any particular person, depression has occurred for a number of reasons rather than any one in isolation. It is thought that some people may be predisposed to depression because of genetic, biochemical or personality reasons. Stressful or difficult events in their lives, such as an illness or traumatic event, may then trigger depression.
The great news is that depression is treatable. With the right support, people can expect to reduce the effects of depression or even remove the illness from their lives. There is a range of medicines available that, used in conjunction with personal therapy and training, can have a positive impact on a depressed person. Therapy on its own may also be enough to treat depression depending on the person. Treatment sometimes includes removing external factors that are causing or prolonging the depression, such as a stressful job or a harmful relationship.
Has depression affected you or someone you know? Do you need help, or are you able to provide advice? If so, please join the SeniorSpace community discussing depression on our forum here.
Useful Links
Health Insite, an Australian Government website, has an index of resources relating to depression here.
beyondblue is a national non-profit organization focused on addressing issues relating to depression, anxiety and related substance abuse.
Black Dog Institute is a non-profit, education and research community group offering assistance with depression and bipolar disorder.
BluePages provides information to consumers about depression.
Sane Australia is a charity committed to supporting research into mental illness and offering information and support for people with this illness.
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