This site is for educational purposes only and is not to replace the advice of a healthcare professional.

     Major depression strikes people of all ages, backgrounds and ethnic groups.  Whether you are male or female, you can be a victim of Major Depression. 

     If a person experiences prolonged anxiety, grief, fear or other negative emotions, they often become depressed.  Maybe you've recently lost a loved one, gone through a divorce, lost your job or have a serious ailment or disease.  These can all bring about Depression.

     Other contributing factors of Depression may be that a person's gone through a devastating experience, such as all the huricanes that have been taking place.  Some have lost all they had.  Many are going through stressful situations and have developed a sense of hopelessness and are unable to see a way out of a bad situation.  All these can also bring about Depression.

     Scientists believe that depression can be linked to a chemical imbalance in the brain.  This imbalance can be inherited or brought on by other means.  In todays world, many people are stressed.  That stress, along with negative thoughts and emotions, can affect the body and contribute to a chemical imbalance in the brain, thus producing Depression. 

     When it comes to Major Depression (or Clinical Depression), this basically means that the depression is severe enough to require some sort of treatment.  Major depression often involves your whole body.  Meaning that it affects a person's mood, thoughts, biochemistry and behavior.  Major Depression affects the way we eat, sleep, think and feel.  When it comes right down to it, depression affects our not only our mind but also our body.

     There are several ways to treat Major Depression, some will be discussed in greater detail on the 'Treating Depression' pages.  When major depression is diagnosed, one recommendation besides antidepressants is psychotherapy, or 'talk therapy.' 

     One of the most common types of 'talk therapy' is Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  This type of therapy helps the depressed one to understand how his thoughts influence his feelings and behavior.  This way he can work to change how he habitually thinks.  This kind of therapy also helps people learn how to get more fulfillment through their own actions.  The depressed are taught how to change their thinking patterns that cause them to feel depressed.

     Interpersonal Therapy is another common type of 'talk therapy.'  This kind of therapy involves talking about the patient's personal relationships that not only cause depression but also make it worse.

     By talking about your problems and the difficult areas in your life, and sincerely trying to work them out, especially with a caring and patient therapist, people with Major Depression can help find better ways of dealing with their problems and their depression.

* It's important to note that there's no  ONE  form of treatment cures all cases of Major Depression.