Depression is a "whole-body" illness, involving one’s body, mood, and thoughts.  It affects the way an individual eats and sleeps, the way the person feels about him or herself, and the way a person thinks about things.  We’ve all felt these periods of being "down" or "sad."  A depressive disorder is not the same as sadness or a passing blue mood.  It is not a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed or wished away.  It is generally characterized by a prolonged and persistent negative mood which colors and interferes with many aspects of one’s life.  It can be characterized by feelings of worthlessness, excessive guilt, loneliness, sadness, hopelessness, self-doubt, and guilt.  Suicidal thoughts may also be present.   A depression that becomes intense and lasts for extended periods of time (two weeks or longer) is often classified as the "severe" form of the disorder which warrants the involvement of a mental health professional.

Depression is a very common illness.  It has been estimated that 17 million Americans suffer from a depressive illness.  It affects approximately 3-5% of the population at any one time.  There is a 20% chance of women having an episode of clinical depression at some point in their lives; a 10% chance among men.  Closer to home, there are three times as many clients of the Suffolk University Counseling Center with chronic forms of depression than was the case ten years ago.

There are misconceptions about depression. People don’t have to feel sad or blue to be depressed. It can be masked or disguised in symptoms such as a stomach ache, back pain or fatigue. Many people suffering from depression can end up going to their Health Care Professional’s office feeling sick and being told there is nothing wrong physically.

On the positive side, 80-90% of all depressed people respond positively to treatment within one year.  Many will begin to return to normal functioning within 6-to-8 weeks.  Early intervention greatly increases the likelihood of positive therapeutic outcomes.  Short-term therapies (10-to-20 sessions over a period of several months) have proven to be very successful in treating the areas of concern that either trigger or maintain depressive disorders.  Symptom specific medications and current psychological therapies are more advanced and effective ever before.  Unfortunately, less than half of people suffering from depression seek treatment and remain unaware that they have a treatable disorder.

1. Do you feel sad more often than you feel happy?
2. Have you lost interest in activities that you usually enjoy?
3. Are you experiencing frequent feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness?
4. Have you noticed a recent unusual weight loss or gain?
5. Do you feel fatigued or sluggish or restless much of the time?
6. Are you usually having difficulty concentrating or making decisions?
7. Have your eating or sleeping patterns changed?
8. Are you having difficulty remembering when you last felt happy?
9. Have you had thoughts of death or suicide?

If you answer "yes" to five or more of the preceding questions, you may be suffering from some form of depression.