Some people with the disease experience persistent sadness or anxiousness. Good Shepherd Hospital offers confidential screenings to help determine if you are depressed and, if so, how serious your depression is. Based on the results, you may be referred to a specialist for a medical evaluation as well as a review of symptoms, current life stressors and family history. Because symptoms of other illnesses, such as hypothyroidism, mirror those of depression, diagnosis by a professional is very important. Fortunately, many effective treatments are available.
Antidepressant medication can ease symptoms, restore sleep patterns and elevate mood.
Psychotherapy has proven useful, especially for people whose depression is the result of life stressors, such as divorce or a death in the family. Some people benefit from a regular exercise program to lower stress and relieve fatigue. Others may be advised to make dietary changes, such as avoiding caffeine to decrease anxiety. Talk to your doctor if you think you or a member of your family may be experiencing depression. A certain amount of moodiness can be expected as a teenager copes with the pressures of adolescence.