Why I need to share information about Depression with you.

I’ve loved helping people learn about depression during my long career as a psychiatrist. It is often very difficult for people to accept that they have depression without my providing some onsite education. I give my patients web-references, booklets and sometimes even introductions to other patients. But the big problem is that when someone is depressed their brain is usually not up to speed, and they may not be able to read or comprehend spoken teaching.

So I am trying to reach out to people who are friends and relatives, and workmates of depressed people to share as much knowledge as I can about depression.

There are three main reasons for my drive to do this:

The first reason is that depression is something most people feel they can identify with. I bet you do. I know what it is and you probably think you know what it is. Much of what you know may be right. But what if some of what you know is wrong.? Could that harm you or your nearest and dearest?

The second reason is that information is power: power to do something that is helpful rather than stand by and do nothing, or do something that could be less than helpful. Well, yes that could be true. If you have wrong information about Depression, then you might underestimate its severity, you might delay doing something about it, and above all you might be unnecessarily pessimistic about it.

The third reason is that Depression can be treated. Most episodes of depression have a beginning, middle, and an end. Maybe treatment will have to keep going for months or years, because that episode of depression will last for that length of time, and will relapse if treatment is stopped too early. But, heavens to Betsy, we have treatment for depression.

We know what it is, and probably what has gone wrong in the brain to cause it, and where in the brain that has happened. We have a stack of medicines, which work, and work well, which will treat your depression or that of your nearest and dearest.

We also know that the best results come from a combination of antidepressants and psychological therapies.

Instead of depression being depressing, there is every reason to be hopeful. But make sure you stay informed.

Two web-references that I have found very helpful are:
1.Dr. Ivan's DEPRESSION CENTRAL
http://www.psycom.net/depression.central.html
2.Depression: Information and Support
http://depression.about.com/