Once you are being treated for depression, you can make lifestyle changes and choices that will help you through the rough times and may prevent depression from returning: Try to identify and focus on activities that make you feel better. It is important to do things for yourself. Don’t isolate yourself. Take part in activities [...]

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If your symptoms indicate that you have clinical depression, your health-care provider will strongly recommend treatment. Treatment may include supportive therapy, such as changes in lifestyle and behavior, psychotherapy, complementary therapies, and may often include medication. Without treatment, your symptoms will last much longer and may never get better. In fact, they may get worse. [...]

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Many providers of health care may help diagnose clinical depression: licensed mental-health therapists, family physicians, or other primary-care providers, specialists whom you see for a medical condition, emergency physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers.

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If you feel that you are depressed, you may wish to talk about your feelings with a family member or a close friend. Communication is one of the keys to early diagnosis and treatment. People close to you may have felt you were depressed. With their encouragement, you should call your health-care provider.

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Clinical depression affects about 19 million Americans annually. It is estimated to contribute to half of all suicides. About 5%-10% of women and 2%-5% of men will experience at least one major depressive episode during their adult life. Depression affects people of all races, incomes, and ages, but it is three to five times more [...]

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As I mentioned above, I have personal experience with Prozac (generic name is Fluoxetine). Basically, Prozac is just another antidepressant. There are three reasons why it has become a household word. One is that it is one of a family of antidepressants (SSRIs) which have more moderate side-effects than the older antidepressants. Many patients are [...]

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Diet, exercise and stress all lead to depression. Here’s how to curb the blues. Do recognize that depression by itself appears to be a risk factor for heart disease—one that may be modifiable, by aggressive treatment of the mood disorder. Do take extra steps to separately minimize the risks of heart disease. Be sure to [...]

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