An ever increasing large number of Americans, --in fact over 21 million people--some diagnosed, some not, live with depression every single day. But there is help!

Have you ever asked yourself why so many people you know are being treated for depression and anxiety or on depression medication? No, it is not your imagination. Actually, an ever
increasing large number of Americans, --in fact over 21 million people--some diagnosed, some not, live with depression every single day. Everyone feels a little down once in a while, and there are various forms of
depression.

In my own life, I have established the three day rule. I allow myself just three days to feel down, and/or have a pity party. Once the three days has passed, then it’s back to business. When depression stretches over time, lasting for three weeks or more, it is considered to be clinical depression, which indicates that there is a major chemical imbalance in the body and brain involving alterations in serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, acetylcholine and endorphins.
Depression symptoms may include sadness, anxiety, hopelessness, lack of optimism, indifference to activities previously enjoyed, nausea, low libido, malaise, fatigue, sleeping
problems, changes in appetite. It also may include aches and pains, gastric upset, migraines, and the list goes on and on.

People with depression or mental health issues may also have unusual,
long standing medical problems that may, or may allude diagnosis, leaving those people virtually
undiagnosed for years or even decades. Individuals with depression may suffer with auto-immune conditions such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, myasthenia gravis, arthritis, psoriasis, or
severe, multiple allergies, and a whole host of other conditions as a result of incorporated stress,
and/or untreated, repressed childhood or other trauma.

These individuals may have an overactive immune system that attacks their neurological system resulting in neurological compromise as a result of untreated, repressed trauma. They may also have feelings of anxiety, depression/mood disorder, or experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, also known as PTSD.

According to the online article, ‘PTSD: A Growing Epidemic,’ NIH Medline Plus Magazine,
Winter 2009 issue: Volume 4, Number 1, pages 10-14, this growing epidemic is another serious mental health issue that often accompanies depression. PTSD, considered an anxiety disorder,
is generally seen more often in women than men, and affects 7.7% of the American population. Originally discovered as an outcome of direct military experience, it is also a diagnosis used for
other types of trauma, including untreated childhood trauma. PTSD has the potential to run in families, and is the outcome of various types of emotional or physical trauma. It is often accompanied by depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, and even addictions as individual’s use drugs or alcohol, food, etc…to try to help ease the emotional pain they
experience post-trauma.

People may also experience a combination of problems, called dual diagnosis, a combination of addiction and depression or other mental illnesses. Clinical depression generally requires treatment by a doctor who will most likely prescribe mood enhancing or regulating medications. Taken daily as prescribed, these medications predictably take 3-6 weeks to begin working. Only the prescribing doctor can say how long an individual will need to take these medications. The
length of time the medication is to be taken is a joint decision between the patient and the doctor and is based on the severity of the individual’s symptoms, life events, and how effectively the treatment is working. It is vitally important for those faced with these symptoms not to self-
medicate or stop taking the medication without consulting the doctor. Medication(s) may be prescribed by a primary care doctor, or a psychiatrist, who should be monitoring the patient for progress through regular follow-up.