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1. Understanding
Depression
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2. What causes Depression?
■ Family History
Having a family members who has
depression may increase a person’s
risk
■ Imbalances of certain chemicals in
the brain may lead to depression
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3. ■ Major Life Changes
Positive or negative
events can trigger
depression.
Examples include the
death of a loved one
or a promotion.
■ Major Illnesses such
as heart attack,
stroke or cancer may
trigger depression.
■

4. Certain medications used
alone or in combination can
cause side effects much like
the symptoms of depression.
■ Use of Alcohol or other Drugs
can lead to or worsen
depression.
■ Depression can also occur for
no apparent reason!
■

5. Symptoms of Depression
■ Vary from person to
person
■ 2 key signs are loss of
interest in things you
like to do and sadness
or irritabilit

6. Additional Signs include:
■ Changes in feelings which may include:
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Feeling empty
Inability to enjoy anything
Hopelessness
Loss of sexual desire
Loss of warm feelings for family or friends
Feelings of self blame or guilt
Loss of self esteem
Inexplicable crying spells, sadness or
irritability

7. Changes in behavior and
attitude
■ These may include:
■ General slowing down
■ Neglect of responsibilities and appearance
■ Poor memory
■ Inability to concentrate
■ Suicidal thoughts, feelings or behaviors
■ Difficulty making decisions

8. Physical Complaints
■ These may include:
■ Sleep disturbances such as
early morning waking, sleeping
too much or insomnia
■ Lack of energy
■ Loss of appetite
■ Weight loss or gain
■ Unexplained headaches or
backaches
■ Stomachaches, indigestion or
changes in bowl habits

9. Common Types of Depression
■ Major Depression
■ Dysthymia
■ Bipolar Disorder
■ Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD)

10. Major Depression
■ This type causes symptoms that may:
■ Begin suddenly, possibly triggered by a loss,
crisis or change
■ Interfere with normal functioning
■ Continue for months or years
■ It is possible for a person to have only one
episode of major depression. It is more
common for episodes to be long lasting or to
occur several times during a person’s life

11. Treatment for Depression
■ Medication
■ Antidepressants can help ease the
symptoms of depression and return a
person to normal functioning.
Antidepressants are not habit forming.

12. Psychotherapy
■ This can help many depressed people
understand themselves and cope with
their problems. For example:
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Interpersonal therapy works to change
relationships that affect depression
Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps people
change negative thinking and behavior
patterns

13. How Do I Feel about
having depression?
●
All of my motivation and joy
is dead. But everyone
keeps telling me that just need to
“cheer up”

14. It is like being told that I will find
my pet fish again, but they aren’t
lost, they are gone

15. And I do try to “Find” it again, but
the things that used to bring my
joy no longer bring me joy

16. I can’t just will my emotions to
come back; if I could get them
back, I would

17. I try reaching out to my family
about this, but they don’t seem to
respond

18. What is worse, when I suggest
getting professional help, my
family and friends laugh it off as
“unnecessary”

19. Meanwhile, my brain continues to
create hate towards anything that
could cause me joy

20. I finally decided to get
professional help because the
pain was too unbearable

21. Now everything is okay if I go to
my psychologist and take my
medicines and stay on track