Depression is diagnosed if a person experiences persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in usual activities in addition to four or more of the following signs for more than two weeks. There are effective treatments for depression. Great strides have been made in the development of antidepressant medications. These medications work on the supply and balance of neurotransmitters in the brain which affect mood. Psychotherapy or talk therapy is also effective in many cases, both by itself, or in combination with medication.
Depression is one of the most treatable of all medical illnesses.
The earlier a diagnosis is made and treatment begins, the more successful the outcome can be. Even though it s sometimes hard to talk about how we re feeling, or how uncomfortable it may be to admit we re feeling depressed, it s well worth the risk to talk to someone about it. After all, it s your life. The following depression screenings are scheduled in the Monadnock Region during October.