The specific type of depression probably isn't as important as going to seek immediate care for it from a trained mental health professional, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker. If you're like many Americans today enrolled in a managed care plan, your first stop should be your primary care physician. Many general practitioners think nothing of prescribing an antidepressant medication for depression without any further referrals or treatment recommendations. Grief after the death or loss of a loved one is common and not considered depression. Teenagers going through the usual mood swings so common to that age usually don't experience depression, either.
Depression usually strikes adults, mostly women.
Depression is debilitating and sometimes even life-threatening. But depression is always treatable and, in most people, curable by getting help for it right away. Copyright 1997-1999 John M. Grohol. All rights reserved. Reprinted here with permission.