Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
NIH Publication No. 02-5084Printed January 2002
Things toremember:Look for signs of depression.
Understand that depression
is a real illness.
See your doctor. Get a check-
up and talk about how you
are feeling.
Get treatment for your
depression. You can feel better.
1
2
3
4
Does this sound like you?
Stories of depression
National Institute of Mental Health
D E P A R T M E N T N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E H E A L T H P U B L I C S E R V I C E S H U M A N A N D H E A L T H O F H E A L T H O F I N S T I T U T E S
20
____________________
This publication has been adapted by Melissa Spearing,Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National
Institute of Mental Health from “Depression,”NIH Publication No. 00-3561.
All material in this booklet is in the public domain andmay be copied or reproduced without permission from
the Institute. Citation of the National Institute ofMental Health as the source is appreciated.
____________________
Are you feeling really sad, tired, and worried most of the time?
Are these feelings lasting more than a few days? If yes, you may have .depression
1
19
National Foundation for Depressive
Illness, Inc. (NAFDI)
National Mental Health Association
(NMHA)
P.O. Box 2257New York, NY 10016
Local call: 212-268-4260Web site:
1021 Prince StreetAlexandria, VA 22134-2971
Local call: 703-684-7722Free call - hearing impaired (TTY):
1-800-433-5959Web site:
Free call: 1-800-239-1265
Free call: 1-800-969-6642
http://www.depression.org
http://www.nmha.org
Brenda’s story:“It was really hard to get out of bed in the morning. I just wanted to hide under the covers and not talk to anyone. I didn’t feel much like eating and I lost a lot of weight. Nothing seemed fun anymore. I was tired all the time, yet I wasn’t sleeping well at night. But I knew that I had to keep going because I’ve got kids and a job. It just felt so impossible, like nothing was going to change or get better.
“I started missing days from work, and a friend noticed that something wasn’t right. She talked to me about the time that she had been really depressed and had gotten help from her doctor.
2
18
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
(NAMI)
National Depressive and Manic
Depressive Association (NDMDA)
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300Arlington, VA 22201-3042
Local call: 703-524-7600Web site:
730 N. Franklin, Suite 501Chicago, IL 60601
Local call: 312-642-0049Web site:
Free call: 1-800-950-6264
Free call: 1-800-826-3632
http://www.nami.org
http://www.ndmda.org
“I called my doctor and talked about how I was feeling. She had me come in for a checkup and gave me the name of a psychiatrist, who is an expert in treating depression.
“Now, I’m seeing the psychiatrist once a month and taking medicine for depression. I’m also seeing someone else for “talk” therapy, which helps me learn ways to deal with this illness in my everyday life.
“Everything didn’t get better overnight, but I find myself more able to enjoy life and my children.”
3
17
For more information:
National Institute of Mental Health
(NIMH)
You can call or write any of theseorganizations for free information aboutdepression. You can also find moreinformation on their web sites. “Free call”phone numbers can be used free by any-one, anywhere in the United States.
Office of Communications andPublic Liaison
Information Resources and Inquiries Branch6001 Executive BoulevardRoom 8184, MSC 9663Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Local call: 301-443-4513Hearing impaired (TTY): 301-443-8431Web site:E-mail:
Free call: 1-800-421-4211
http://[email protected]
Rob’s story: “Things in my life were going all right. I had just gotten my GED and was starting a new job in a week. My family was really proud of me. But inside, I was feeling terrible.
“At first I was feeling sad all the time, even though I had no reason to be. Then the sadness turned into anger, and I started having fights with my family and friends. I felt really bad about myself, like I wasn’t good enough for anyone. It got so bad that I wished I would go to bed and never wake up.
“My older brother, who I always looked up to, saw that I wasn’t acting like my usual self. He told me straight out that I seemed depressed and that I should talk to a doctor about it. I hate going to the doctor. I thought, “No way am I going in for this.”
4
16
How to help someone who
may have depressionIf you know someone who seemsdepressed and may need help, here aresome things you can do:
Tell the person that you areconcerned about him or her.Share this booklet with the person.Talk to the person about seeing adoctor.Take the person to see the doctor.If the doctor offers the name andphone number of a psychiatristor someone for “talk” therapy, callthe number and help the personmake an appointment.Take the person to the appointment.“Be there” for the person after he orshe starts treatment.Contact any of the places listedunder “For more information” inthis booklet.
“But after a few weeks, I started having problems at work too. Sometimes I wouldn’t show up because I wasn’t able to sleep the night before. When I got fired, I knew I had to listen to my brother and get help.
“I saw a doctor at the health clinic. He told me I had a common illness called depression and that treatment could help. So I started to see someone at the clinic each week for “talk” therapy. This treatment helps me learn to control depression in my everyday life. It has taken some time, but I’m finally feeling like myself again.”
Many people who have depression know something is wrong but
don’t know what to do about it. This booklet can help. It tells you about four steps you can take to
understand and get help for depression.
5
14
Get treatment for
your depression.
You can feel better.
There are two common types of treat-
ment for depression: (1) medicine and
(2) “talk” therapy.
Medicine
“antidepressants.”
psychiatrist
Ask your doctor whichtype is best for you. Some people need bothtreatments to feel better.
Medicines for depression are calledYour regular
doctor or a (a medicaldoctor trained in helping people withdepression) can prescribe them for you.
Antidepressants may take a few weeksto work. Be sure to tell the doctor howyou are feeling. If you are not feelingbetter, you may need to try differentmedicines to find out what works bestfor you.
4Step Four steps to understand and get help for depression:
1 Look for signs of depression.
2 Understand that depression is
a real illness.
3 See your doctor. Get a checkup
and talk about how you are
feeling.
4 Get treatment for your
depression. You can feel better.
7
13
See your doctor.
Don’t wait. Talk to your doctor about
how you are feeling. Get a medicalcheckup to rule out any other illnesses thatmight be causing signs of depression. Askif you need to see someone who canevaluate and treat depression.
If you don’t have a doctor, check your localphone book. Go to the government servicespages (they may be blue in color) and lookfor “health clinics” or “community healthcenters.” Call one near you and ask for help.
3Step
8
Look for signs of
depression.
Read the following list.
Put a check mark sounds like you:
I am really sad most of the time. I don’t enjoy doing the things I’ve always enjoyed doing. I don’t sleep well at night and am very restless. I am always tired. I find it hard to get out of bed. I don’t feel like eating much.
1Step
by each sign that
12
You may want to know why you feel“depressed.” There may be several causes.
Depression may happen because ofchanges in your brain.
Depression runs in some families.This means that someone in yourfamily such as a grandparent,parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sisteror brother may have depression.
Sometimes painful events or lossessuch as deaths can lead to depression.
Sometimes the cause of depressionis not clear.
What causes depression?
9
I feel like eating all the time. I have lots of aches and pains that don’t go away. I have little to no sexual energy. I find it hard to focus and am very forgetful. I am mad at everybody and everything. I feel upset and fearful, but can’t figure out why. I don’t feel like talking to people. I feel like there isn’t much point to living, nothing good is going to happen to me. I don’t like myself very much. I feel bad most of the time. I think about death a lot. I even think about how I might kill myself.
If you checked several boxes, call your
doctor. Take the list to show the
doctor. You may need to get a checkup
and find out if you have depression.
11
Understand that
depression is a
real illness.
Depression is a serious medical illness
that involves the brain.
But, there is hope.
Depression can be treated and you
can feel better.
Depression isnot something that you have “made up inyour head.” It’s more than just feeling“down in the dumps” or “blue” for a fewdays. It’s feeling “down” and “low” and“hopeless” for weeks at a time.
About 19 million Americans havedepression. It can happen to anyone, nomatter what age you are or where youcome from.
Depression can make it very hard for youto care for yourself, your family, or evenhold down a job.
2Step
10
Suicide Sometimes depression can cause people to feel like killing themselves.
Call 911. Go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital. Call and talk to your doctor now. Ask a friend or family member to take you to the hospital or call your doctor.
If you are thinking about killing
yourself or know someone who is
talking about it, get help:
10
SuicideSometimes depression can causepeople to feel like killing themselves.
Call 911.Go to the emergency room of thenearest hospital.Call and talk to your doctor now.Ask a friend or family member totake you to the hospital or callyour doctor.
If you are thinking about killing
yourself or know someone who is
talking about it, get help:
Step Understand that
depression is a
real illness.
2
Depression is a serious medical illness
that involves the brain. Depression is not something that you have “made up in your head.” It’s more than just feeling “down in the dumps” or “blue” for a few days. It’s feeling “down” and “low” and “hopeless” for weeks at a time.
About 19 million Americans have depression. It can happen to anyone, no matter what age you are or where you come from.
Depression can make it very hard for you to care for yourself, your family, or even hold down a job. But, there is hope.
Depression can be treated and you
can feel better.
11
9
I feel like eating all the time.I have lots of aches and pains thatdon’t go away.I have little to no sexual energy.I find it hard to focus and am veryforgetful.I am mad at everybody and everything.I feel upset and fearful, but can’t figureout why.I don’t feel like talking to people.I feel like there isn’t much point toliving, nothing good is going tohappen to me.I don’t like myself very much. I feelbad most of the time.I think about death a lot. I even thinkabout how I might kill myself.
If you checked several boxes, call your
doctor. Take the list to show the
doctor. You may need to get a checkup
and find out if you have depression.
What causes depression?
You may want to know why you feel “depressed.” There may be several causes.
Depression may happen because of changes in your brain.
Depression runs in some families. This means that someone in your family such as a grandparent, parent, aunt, uncle, cousin, sister or brother may have depression.
Sometimes painful events or losses such as deaths can lead to depression.
Sometimes the cause of depression is not clear.
12
8
Look for signs of
depression.
Read the following list.
Put a check mark sounds like you:
I am really sad most of the time.I don’t enjoy doing the things I’ve alwaysenjoyed doing.I don’t sleep well at night and am veryrestless.I am always tired. I find it hard to getout of bed.I don’t feel like eating much.
1Step
by each sign that
Step 3See your doctor.
Don’t wait. Talk to your doctor about
how you are feeling. Get a medical checkup to rule out any other illnesses that might be causing signs of depression. Ask if you need to see someone who can evaluate and treat depression.
If you don’t have a doctor, check your local phone book. Go to the government services pages (they may be blue in color) and look for “health clinics” or “community health centers.” Call one near you and ask for help.
13
7
Four steps tounderstand andget help fordepression:
Look for signs of depression.
Understand that depression is
a real illness.
See your doctor. Get a checkup
and talk about how you are
feeling.
Get treatment for your
depression. You can feel better.
1
2
3
4
Step 4Get treatment for
your depression.
You can feel better.
There are two common types of treat
ment for depression: (1) medicine and
(2) “talk” therapy. Ask your doctor which type is best for you. Some people need both treatments to feel better.
Medicine
“antidepressants.”
Medicines for depression are called Your regular
doctor or a (a medicalpsychiatrist
doctor trained in helping people with depression) can prescribe them for you.
Antidepressants may take a few weeks to work. Be sure to tell the doctor how you are feeling. If you are not feeling better, you may need to try different medicines to find out what works best for you.
14
6
Medicines sometimes cause unwanted “side effects.” You may feel tired, have blurred vision, or feel sick to your stomach. Tell the doctor if you have these or any other side effects.
“Talk” therapy
“Talk” therapy involves talking to someone such as a ,psychologist
social worker counselor, or . It helps you learn to change how depression makes you think, feel, and act. Ask your doctor or psychiatrist who you should go to for talk therapy.
You can feel better.
15
5
“But after a few weeks, I started havingproblems at work too. Sometimes Iwouldn’t show up because I wasn’t able tosleep the night before. When I got fired,I knew I had to listen to my brother andget help.
“I saw a doctor at the health clinic. Hetold me I had a common illness calleddepression and that treatment could help.So I started to see someone at the cliniceach week for “talk” therapy. This treatmenthelps me learn to control depression in myeveryday life. It has taken some time, butI’m finally feeling like myself again.”
Many people who have depressionknow something is wrong but
don’t know what to do about it.This booklet can help. It tells youabout four steps you can take to
understand and get help fordepression.
16
How to help someone who
may have depression If you know someone who seems depressed and may need help, here are some things you can do:
Tell the person that you are concerned about him or her. Share this booklet with the person. Talk to the person about seeing a doctor. Take the person to see the doctor. If the doctor offers the name and phone number of a psychiatrist or someone for “talk” therapy, call the number and help the person make an appointment. Take the person to the appointment. “Be there” for the person after he or she starts treatment. Contact any of the places listed under “For more information” in this booklet.
4
Rob’s story:“Things in my life were going all right. Ihad just gotten my GED and was startinga new job in a week. My family wasreally proud of me. But inside, I wasfeeling terrible.
“At first I was feeling sad all the time, eventhough I had no reason to be. Then thesadness turned into anger, and I startedhaving fights with my family and friends.I felt really bad about myself, like I wasn’tgood enough for anyone. It got so bad thatI wished I would go to bed and neverwake up.
“My older brother, who I always looked upto, saw that I wasn’t acting like my usualself. He told me straight out that I seemeddepressed and that I should talk to adoctor about it. I hate going to the doctor.I thought, “No way am I going in for this.”
For more information:
You can call or write any of these organizations for free information about depression. You can also find more information on their web sites. “Free call” phone numbers can be used free by any-one, anywhere in the United States.
National Institute of Mental Health
(NIMH)
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
Information Resources and Inquiries Branch 6001 Executive Boulevard Room 8184, MSC 9663 Bethesda, MD 20892-9663 Free call: 1-800-421-4211
Local call: 301-443-4513Hearing impaired (TTY): 301-443-8431Web site: http://www.nimh.nih.gov E-mail: [email protected]
17
3
“I called my doctor and talked about howI was feeling. She had me come in for acheckup and gave me the name of apsychiatrist, who is an expert in treatingdepression.
“Now, I’m seeing the psychiatrist once amonth and taking medicine for depression.I’m also seeing someone else for “talk”therapy, which helps me learn ways to dealwith this illness in my everyday life.
“Everything didn’t get better overnight, butI find myself more able to enjoy life andmy children.”
Arlington, VA 22201-3042 Free call: 1-800-950-6264
Local call: 703-524-7600 Web site: http://www.nami.org
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501 Chicago, IL 60601-7204 Free call: 1-800-826-3632
Local call: 312-642-0049 Web site: http://www.ndmda.org
18
2107 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 300 (NAMI)
National Alliance for the Mentally Ill
ipolar Support
Alliance Depression & B &&&
2
Brenda’s story:“It was really hard to get out of bed in themorning. I just wanted to hide under thecovers and not talk to anyone. I didn’t feelmuch like eating and I lost a lot of weight.Nothing seemed fun anymore. I was tiredall the time, yet I wasn’t sleeping well atnight. eep goingbecause I’ve got kids and a job. It just feltso impossible, like nothing was going tochange or get better.
“I started missing days from work, and afriend noticed that something wasn’t right.She talked to me about the time that shehad been really depressed and had gottenhelp from her doctor.
But I knew that I had to k
National Foundation for Depressive
Illness, Inc. (NAFDI)
P.O. Box 2257New York, NY 10116Free call: 1-800-239-1265
Local call: 212-268-4260 Web site: http://www.depression.org
National Mental Health Association
(NMHA)
2001 N. Beauregard Street, 12th FloorAlexandria, VA 22311Free call: 1-800-969-6642
Local call: 703-684-7722 Free call - hearing impaired (TTY):
1-800-433-5959 Web site: http://www.nmha.org
19
1
Are you feeling really sad,tired, and worriedmost of the time?
Are these feelings lastingmore than a few days? If yes,you may have .depression
1
____________________
This publication has been adapted by Melissa Spearing,Office of Communications and Public Liaison, National
Institute of Mental Health from “Depression,”NIH Publication No. 00-3561.
All material in this booklet is in the public domain andmay be copied or reproduced without permission from
the Institute. Citation of the National Institute ofMental Health as the source is appreciated.
____________________
20
Does this sound like you?
Stories of depression
National Instituteof Mental Health
D E P A R T M E N T N A T I O N A L S E R V I C E H E A L T H P U B L I C S E R V I C E S H U M A N A N D H E A L T H O F H E A L T HO F I N S T I T U T E S
Things to remember: Look for signs of depression.
Understand that depression
is a real illness.
See your doctor. Get a check-
up and talk about how you
are feeling.
Get treatment for your
depression. You can feel better.
1
2
3
4
NIH Publication No. 02-5084 Printed September 2002
This is the electronic version of a National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) publication, available from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/index.cfm. To order a print copy, call the NIMH Information Center at 301-443-4513 or 1-866-615-6464 (toll-free). Visit the NIMH Web site (http://www.nimh.nih.gov) for information that supplements this publication.
To learn more about NIMH programs and publications, contact the following:
Web address: E-mail:http://www.nimh.nih.gov [email protected]
Phone numbers: Fax numbers:301-443-4513 (local) 301-443-42791-866-615-6464 (toll-free) 301-443-5158 (FAX 4U)301-443-8431 (TTY)
1-866-415-8051 (TTY toll-free)
Street address:National Institute of Mental HealthOffice of CommunicationsRoom 8184, MSC 96636001 Executive BoulevardBethesda, Maryland 20892-9663 USA
__________________________________________________________________________
This information is in the public domain and can be copied or reproduced without permission from NIMH. To reference this material, we suggest the following format:
National Institute of Mental Health. Title. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services; Year of Publication/Printing [Date of Update/Revision; Date of Citation]. Extent. (NIH Publication No XXX XXXX). Availability.
A specific example is:National Institute of Mental Health. Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia: An Update from the National Institute of Mental Health. Bethesda (MD): National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services; 2003 [cited 2004 February 24]. (NIH Publication Number: NIH 5124). 4 pages. Available from: http://www.nimh.nih.gov/publicat/schizkids.cfm
