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 .

WHS Primary Care - Lakeside 1001 Waterdam Plaza , McMurray , PA 15317

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