Depression in Women--Symptoms and Treatments

Dear WomenOver40,

Depression is when you feel sad and uninterested in daily life. You may have other symptoms as well. It can be mild to severe. It can last for a short time or a long time.

We all have times when we feel sad and "blue." However, when you feel this way for more than 2 weeks in a row, it is a medical problem. Do not listen to well-meaning people who tell you to “snap out of it”. This is not possible if you have clinical depression!

What are the symptoms?

#1) Irritable mood most of the day—nearly every day.

#2) Loss of interest or pleasure in activities such as hobbies, work, sex, or being with friends most of the day—nearly every day.

be irritable and aggressive

have trouble falling asleep, wake up very early, or sleep too much

notice changes in your appetite and weight, either up or down

feel more anxiety and panic

notice changes in your energy level, usually down but sometimes feeling overexcited

lose sexual desire and function

feel worthless and guilty

have trouble concentrating or remembering things

feel hopeless or just not care about anything

have unexplained physical symptoms

think often about death or suicide

In general, if you have 5 or more of the bulleted symptoms, plus either #1 or #2, during the same 2 week period it’s time to seek help from a healthcare professional.

What are the treatments?

You should not try to overcome clinical depression by yourself. Treatments include psychotherapy, antidepressant or mood stabilizing medicines, or a combination of these therapies. Discuss this with your healthcare provider or therapist.

There are many types of clinical depression and you must be diagnosed by a psychiatrist, who is a medical doctor. She/he will discuss the best treatments with you.

Generally, treatment includes drugs, vitamins, and therapy with a psychologist or counselor. The drugs help to stabilize certain brain chemicals which then eliminates your anxiety and other unpleasant feelings.

The primary drugs used for this purpose are: SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as the popular Zoloft; Tricyclics and MAOI (monoamine oxidase inhibitors).

Vitamins are needed to help correct poor nutrition, as depression may cause changes in appetite, meaning weight loss or gain.

Treatment is based on a variety of factors and can only be determined by a qualified psychiatrist who is a medical doctor. Remember, you have a medical condition which can lead to suicidal thoughts and behavior.

It takes time before you begin to feel better. The medications take several weeks to become effective. Please be patient with yourself.

Your psychiatrist and psychologist will make many suggestions to help you heal such as engaging in healthy habits. Perhaps she/he may suggest regular exercise for example or spending time with friends.

This condition makes it extremely difficult to do these things because you simply do not have the mental or physical energy. When the medication “kicks in” you may feel up to taking “baby steps” back to your old self again.

Another thing: I have a number of patients who complain that the medication is not doing anything or helping. This is not true. These drugs are not uppers! Working with a counselor will help you understand what depression is and how the treatment works.

The goal of counseling is to help you develop new ways to cope with problems, to identify and understand more about this condition and how to avoid it in the future.

For suicidal thoughts, seek immediate help from a healthcare professional or dial 411 for the phone number to a suicide hotline.

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