According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), depression is a serious illness in which more than 17 million Americans suffer from it each year. According to the Mayo Clinic, most medical professionals consider depression a lifelong illness.
Causes
According to the Mayo Clinic, scientists and medical professionals have not found an exact cause or origin for depression. Stress, genetics and chemical imbalances are leading theories.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of depression are feelings of sadness, hopelessness or worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, disruption of sleeping patterns, changes to eating habits, lack of interest in activities or hobbies and being easily distracted.
Diagnosis
Doctors will conduct physical exams, blood work and psychological evaluations to determine if an individual is suffering from depression and not other conditions such as drug abuse or thyroid disorders.
Treatments
Popular treatments for depression are antidepressant medications such as Prozac, counseling and hospitalization for those suffering from severe depression.
Prevention
Since there's no cure or known origin for depression, the Mayo Clinic recommends controlling factors such as stress and low self-esteem to prevent the onset of depression.
