1. Understanding Depression Slideshow
2. Take the Depression Quiz
3. Benefits of Depression Treatment

Medical Author:

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Roxanne Dryden-Edwards, MD

Dr. Roxanne Dryden-Edwards is an adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist. She is a former Chair of the Committee on Developmental Disabilities for the American Psychiatric Association, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and Medical Director of the National Center for Children and Families in Bethesda, Maryland.

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Medical Editor:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

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In this Article

• Depression facts
• What is a depressive disorder?
• What are myths about depression?
• What are the types of depression, and what are depression symptoms and signs?
• Depression symptoms and signs in men
• Depression symptoms and signs in women
• Depression symptoms and signs in teenagers
• Depression symptoms and signs in children
• What are the causes and risk factors of depression?
• Postpartum depression
• How is depression diagnosed?
• What treatments are available for depression?
• What is the general approach to treating depression?
• What about sexual dysfunction related to antidepressants?
• What about discontinuing antidepressants?
• What are complications of depression?
• What is the prognosis for depression?
• How can depression be prevented?
• What about self-help and home remedies?
• How can someone help a person who is depressed?
• Where can one seek help for depression?
• What is in the future for depression?
• Where can people find more information about depression?
• Depression FAQs
• Patient Comments: Depression - Treatments
• Patient Comments: Depression - Symptoms in Teens
• Patient Comments: Depression - Therapy
• Find a local Psychiatrist in your town
• Depression Index

Programs that use mental health professionals to teach thinking skills (cognitive techniques) that assist in coping with stress seem to be effective in preventing depression. Key aspects in the prevention of postpartum depression include helping new mothers decrease those specific aspects of their lives that may contribute to depression, like having little social support and poor adjustment to their marriage or other domestic union.

Depressive disorders can make those afflicted feel exhausted, worthless, helpless, and hopeless. Such negative thoughts and feelings make some people feel like giving up. It is important to realize that these negative views are part of the depression and typically do not accurately reflect the actual situation. It should be remembered that negative thinking fades as treatment begins to take effect. In the meantime, the following are helpful tips for coping with depression:

• Eat healthy foods. The frequent lack of adequate nutrients and presence of excessive fats, sugars and sodium in fast foods can further sap the energy of depression sufferers.
• Many may find that folate and vitamin D food supplements help improve their mood.
• Make time to get enough rest to physically promote improvement in your mood.
• Express your feelings, either to friends, in a journal, or using art to help release some negative feelings.
• Do not set difficult goals for yourself or take on a great deal of responsibility.
• Break large tasks into small ones, set some priorities, and do what you can when you can.
• Do not expect too much from yourself too soon as this will only increase feelings of failure.
• Try to be with other people, which is usually better than being alone.
• Participate in activities that may make you feel better.
• You might try exercising, going to a movie or a ball game, or participating in religious or social activities.
• Don't rush or overdo it. Don't get upset if your mood is not greatly improved right away. Feeling better takes time.
• Do not make major life decisions, such as changing jobs or getting married or divorced without consulting others who know you well. These people often can have a more objective view of your situation. In any case, it is advisable to postpone important decisions until your depression has lifted.
• Do not expect to "snap out" of your depression. People rarely do. Help yourself as much as you can, and do not blame yourself for not being up to par.
• Remember, do not accept your negative thinking. It is part of the depression and will disappear as your depression responds to treatment.
• Plan how you would get help for yourself in an emergency, like calling friends, family, your physical or mental health professional or a local emergency room if you were to develop thoughts of harming yourself or someone else.
• Limit your access to things that could be used to hurt yourself or others (for example, do not keep excess medication of any kind, firearms, or other weapons in the home).