Depression Questions

1. FAQ: What Should I Do if I Think Someone I Know Is Suicidal?

   If you don't know the person well:
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

2. FAQ: How Is Depression Different From Sadness?

   Depression is an illness, whereas sadness is an emotion. Sadness is a part of the human experience for everyone. It's usually triggered by a loss or the memory of a loss. If one takes time to experience the feeling rather than ignore it, it will usually gradually dissipate...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

3. FAQ: How Is Depression Different From a Bad Mood?

   A mood is a feeling, whereas a depression is a chronic illness. Neither feels good, and both can seem to go on and on -- a mood can persist for hours or days. But depression lasts even longer and is physically harmful.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

4. FAQ: How Is Depression Different From Burnout?

   Depression is a physical illness. Burnout is an emotional fatigue triggered by ongoing and severe stress. Burnout can definitely lead to depression, though, so it's important to pay attention to it.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 5 Community Answers

5. FAQ: Is It Possible to Have Depression if I'm Still Able to Run My Life?

   It's possible for someone to function in everyday life despite having depression, because depression is an illness that has a range of severity. Those who have a relatively mild form of depression may feel unhappy, have difficulty experiencing joy, and have a number of physiologic effects, but these...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

6. FAQ: Can Depression Be Treated With Medication Only?

   Yes, it's possible to treat depression with medication only, in some cases -- however, almost every study done highlights that the most effective treatment is a combination of antidepressant medication and talk therapy.
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

7. FAQ: How Do I Find a Therapist to Treat Depression?

   Here's how to find a therapist to treat depression:
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

8. FAQ: How Do You Know How Serious a Case of Depression Someone Has?

   If the depression is causing someone to be socially withdrawn, dysfunctional to the point that he or she can't work or do basic household chores, and the person is talking or thinking about suicide, that's clearly severe. If, despite a lack of joy and in spite of having the physiological symptoms of...
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

9. FAQ: What Can I Say to Someone Who Seems Depressed but Won't Get Help?

   Here's how to approach someone who seems depressed but is in denial about it or refuses to get medical help:
   FAQ 1 Expert Answer

10. FAQ: What Are the Dangers of Untreated Depression?

    Concerns about symptoms of depression should always be taken seriously. Depression causes significant disabilities and problems of many different kinds:
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer

11. FAQ: What Should I Do if I Feel Suicidal?

    First, tell someone close to you rather than keeping suicidal thoughts to yourself. You may be reluctant to "burden" a loved one, but people who are suicidal and share their feelings with others are much less likely to go through with it. The real "burden" comes from committing suicide and leaving loved...
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer

12. FAQ: Is Depression a Normal Part of Menopause?

    No, depression isn't a normal part of menopause. Depression, although all too common, is never normal. Depression is an illness.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer

13. Can bypass surgery change a personality?

    Heart surgery -- or even receiving a diagnosis of heart disease -- can change someone's personality, pretty much like any psychological trauma. Sometimes there can be changes in the brain related to the surgery that cause personality changes, but more often it's just the shock of recognizing that you have a serious condition...
    1 Expert Answer, 11 Community Answers

14. How can I carve out time for myself without feeling guilty?

    It sounds as if you don't have a lot of support in caring for your mother.
    1 Expert Answer

15. FAQ: Is Depression a Normal Part of Aging?

    No, it's not normal to develop depression as one gets older. Depression is all too common, but it's never normal. Depression is an illness.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer

16. Am I tired or depressed?

    To screen for depression, doctors often ask the following two key questions:
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 4 Community Answers

17. How Can I Tell the Difference Between the Normal Stress of Caregiving and Depression?

    To screen for depression, doctors often ask the following two key questions:
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 13 Community Answers

18. How Can I Tell if an Elder Is Just Sad or Is Depressed?

    It's not always easy to tell if an elder is just sad or is depressed. Depression is not uncommon among older people, especially among those with illnesses such as dementia. But depression is not a normal part of aging, either.
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

19. What are the signs of depression?

    The most important signs of depression concern emotions. These include a persistently sad or hopeless mood and/or loss of interest in activities one used to enjoy. One or both of these signs must be present for at least two weeks for a diagnosis of major depression to be made...
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 2 Community Answers

20. Can you treat depression without medication?

    Yes, it's possible to treat depression without medication. Intensive talk-based therapy (psychotherapy or counseling) alone can help some individuals. Many professionals, including psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and other counselors, provide this kind of therapy...
    FAQ 1 Expert Answer, 1 Community Answer