Frequently Asked Questions

1. How would I know if I am depressed? - People who are depressed frequently complain of constant fatigue, lack of energy, loss of appetite and weight gain and lost.  They may have trouble with concentration and memory.  They experience an overall lack of optimism, the belief that things can get better. 
2. What should you do if you are depressed? -
   think that I  may be depressed.  How would I know?   People who are depressed frequently complain of energy loss, lack of appetite, possibly weight gain or loss.  They may have trouble with concentration or memory.  They may have trouble sleeping or sleep too much.  They experience an overall lack of optimism  That is, they have trouble remembering pleasure, experiencing pleasure in the present, or expecting pleasure in the future. 
    
   What should I do if I am depressed?  Depression is nothing more than dry brain hormones.  There are three brain hormones involved in depression:  Serotonin, Norepinephrine, and Dopamine.  People are sometimes born with a condition that leaves their brain hormones dry.  A traumatic event may set off this condition.  Age may also contribute.
    
   People who are born this way, may go through life depressed.  However, since they have never known anything else, they may not know that they are depressed.  It may take a relationship partner to notice.
    
   Other people experience depression later in life.  They may recognize it but not know what to do or be too depressed to do anything.
    
   The very best treatment for depression is exercise.  Exercise stimulates the production of the brain hormones.  Daily rigorous exercise of at least one hour-twice daily is preferable-(with the approval of a doctor) usually works quite well.
    
   Doing things about which one feels good is the next treatment.  Doing things that shame us makes it difficult to like ourselves.
    
   The idea is that the exercise and practice of deeds that make us feel proud work to boost our brain hormone levels.  When we feel better we can learn new life skills for coping in better ways.  The improved coping skills make depression less likely.
    
   Sometimes an anti-depressant is necessary if the exercise is not enough.  It is important to understand that anti-depressants SAVE serotonin but do not MAKE it.  The exercise MAKES it and the medication helps to store it.  Anti-depressants taken without exercise and/or with alcohol do not work properly.  In fact, the alcohol may actually make people who are on anti-depressants MORE depressed.
    
   Consulting a good psychotherapist who is skilled in working with depression is a good idea .  This is the best route for both helping the depression in the present and preventing it in the future.