• Medications related to depression

  • We all feel a bit sad or down now and then. An especially bad day at work, a romantic heartbreak, a personal loss, or a simple disappointment can plunge even the strongest of us into the blues. But for most of us, sadness is a temporary feeling, a funk we shake off after a good night's sleep or a relaxing weekend away from work.

  • When you have depression, you may wonder "Why?" or "Where did these unfamiliar, out-of-character feelings come from?" Though the answer to the question of what causes depression is not a simple one, there are risk factors for becoming depressed. The more of these risk factors you have, the greater the chance you will experience a bout of depression: your genetics: Have any of your relatives experienced depression? Depression can run in families.

  • When imagining someone with depression, many might think of a sombre teen or an over-dramatic twenty-something woman. It is true that more women than men have depression. However, depression affects everyone, including men, children and seniors. And while depression symptoms most commonly appear between 15 and 45 years of age, the condition can strike anyone at any age.

  • Although depression can affect almost everyone, some people are at higher risk of becoming depressed. As mentioned in "What causes depression", certain factors increase a person's vulnerability to depression. You are at a higher risk of depression if: you have previously had depression others in your family have had depression you have a chronic medical conditions, such as: heart disease diabetes chronic pain nervous system conditions such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis you have another psychiatric condition you are experiencing hormone changes (such as after delivering a baby) you abuse alcohol or drugs Doctors look for particular symptoms when diagnosing depression.

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