Mental health issues such as depression
will affect up to half of all U.S. adults during their lifetimes, according to
a recently published report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.[1]
Although it is normal to feel unhappy or in a down mood from time to time,
between 5 and 8 percent of all U.S. adults experience debilitating clinical
depression (major depression) each year, reports the National Alliance on
Mental Illness. Although clinical depression is a serious medical condition, it
can be treated and managed with the help of a qualified healthcare
professional.

A new study published in the American
Psychological Association’s Journal of
Abnormal Psychology^® found that depression and anxiety are
diagnosed more frequently in women than in men.[2] Some
of the most common symptoms of depression include:

·
Loss of interest in work, school, hobbies, or other activities you once
enjoyed

·
Withdrawal from friends and family

·
Increase or decrease in appetite

·
Unexplained weight gain or loss

·
Sleeping too much or too little

·
Feelings of low worth or extreme guilt

·
Thoughts of death or suicide

At this time of year, when the days get
shorter and the temperatures turn colder, many people find themselves going
into “hibernation” or “homebody” mode, while other people tend to feel sad or
lonely as the winter holidays approach. If this describes you, know that you
are not alone in your feelings of social withdrawal, lethargy, or sorrow during
the fall and winter months. You may be experiencing a depressive condition
called seasonal affective disorder.

SAD is thought to be caused by an
imbalance of chemicals in the brain resulting from a lack of sunlight in winter
and shorter daylight hours. In some individuals, an increase in the production
of the hormone that regulates sleep (melatonin) is believed to produce symptoms
of SAD. Although SAD may arise at any age, the condition is most prevalent in
women and young adults between the ages of 18 and 30. Common treatment options
for SAD include light therapy, prescription medicine, psychotherapy, and
increased exposure to natural light. Doctors may use a particular treatment by
itself in combination with another treatment option, depending on the patient’s
symptoms and preferences.

The days, weeks, and months after
childbirth are another time when depressive disorders commonly occur. Right
after having a baby, some women may experience a short period of “baby blues”
as their hormones and bodies readjust to a pre-pregnancy state and a lack of
sleep takes its toll. Postpartum depression, a more serious condition than the
short-lived baby blues, can affect women up to a year after childbirth. Some
common warning signs of postpartum depression are feelings of despair or
desperation, thoughts of harming the baby, extreme fatigue, and frequent
crying.

Depression also can occur in children,
teens, young adults and seniors– for different reasons. It is important to tell your primary healthcare
provider about any unusual changes in behavior or mood that you or a loved one
may experience -- or if you or someone you love is struggling with persistent
feelings of grief, anxiety, or hopelessness that may impair your ability to
function on a daily basis.

*Joshua Feinberg, D.O., is a family medicine
physician in practice at the Crozer Health Pavilion, 145
Brinton Lake Road, Suite 201, Glen Mills, PA 19342, 610-459-1619

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[1]  http://www.cdc.gov/Features/MentalHealthSurveillance/

[2] http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/abn-ofp-eaton.pdf