We’ ve’ ve all all felt felt down down in the in the dumps before. Things. in life in life can can happen that that will will make make us us unhappy from from time time to to time time. However.,, many many people experience true true clinical depression in their in their lifetimes, including, 20 20 %% of of all all women and and 10 10 %% of of all all men men,, according to to Dr. Dr Katie. Katie Tadolini, a, primary a care care physician at Lakeside at Primary Care Care of of Washington Health System. Those. Those who who suffer suffer from from depression often often find find it difficult it to to talk talk about about, but, but just just like like high high blood blood pressure or or diabetes,, depression is a is serious a disease that that can can be be treated and and relieved..

So So what what is the is the difference between just just feeling down down and and true true clinical depression??

“ To“ To be be diagnosed with with clinical depression, one, one must must have have a period a of two of two weeks or or longer during which which there there is either is either depressed mood mood or or loss loss of of interest / pleasure, and at least five other symptoms that reflect a change in functioning,” says Dr. Tadolini. These symptoms can include things like sleep problems, change in eating, loss of energy, problems concentrating and changes in self-image.

It is important to know the symptoms of depression so that you can identify them in yourself or a loved one. Medical professionals often use the mnemonic SIGECAPS, which stands for sleep disturbance, interest / pleasure reduction, guilt feelings or thoughts of worthlessness, energy changes and fatigue, concentration / attention / impairment, appetite, / weight / changes, psychomotor, disturbances, and, and suicidal thoughts and and sadness. In. order In order to to be be diagnosed with with depression, a, person a needs needs to to have have five five of these of these symptoms..

“ The“ The big big thing thing with with depression is that is that it doesn it doesn’ t discriminate’ t and and can can affect affect any any population at any at any time time in life in life,” says,” says Dr. Dr Tadolini.. Depression. is slightly is more more common in females in and and seems to to affect affect younger adults adults at the at the highest rate rate, but, but it truly it truly is a is disease a that that can can affect affect anyone..

If you If you think think you you might might be be depressed, it, is it very is very important that that you you reach reach out out to to someone, preferably, your your primary care care physician. The. The major major barrier for for many many patients is that is that the the disease itself itself creates a feeling a of isolation of and and sufferers mistakenly think think that that they they are are the the only only one one to to feel feel this this way way. Dr.. Dr Tadolini. always tells her depression patients that,“ It’ s like drowning, except you see everyone around you breathing.”

Though depression often seems like a hopeless disease, treatment options are abound. Dr. Tadolini believes the best treatment option is a combination of therapy and medication. Not everyone needs medication to treat depression, but medical advancements have provided many safer and more effective options than were previously available.

It is important to know that treatment for depression is not uniform. What works for one patient may not work for another, so often a period of medication adjustments or changes may be necessary to achieve remission. In addition it can take up to 6 weeks for an antidepressant to reach peak effectiveness so it is important to be patient with the process and provide your doctor with input along the way.

Depression rarely gets better on its own, so treatment is very important. The goal of treatment is not to cure depression, but to put it in remission. Those who are susceptible to depression may experience recurrences of it throughout their lifetime, and that is why it is important to monitor symptoms and be proactive with treatment and self-care.

Katherine Tadolini, MD

PRIMARY CARE REDEFINED

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If you have noticed changes in your mood that have lasted two weeks or more, talk to your primary care physician. To make an appointment at Lakeside Primary Care, please call( 724) 969-1001.

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