Depression: What Can Be Done For It?

THE DOCTOR IS IN
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LAS VEGAS- Hello America, and how is the world treating you?

To Marcia, who wanted my opinion on depression and wondered if she can suffer depression if her mother had it.

First, let me say that: Yes, depression can often be found to run in families. It can be passed from generation to generation. As I've said before, many an ailment and/or disease is "in your genes." It can also be connected to environmental factors, and even sometimes, both.

Marcia, if a person is depressed more than a decade (10 years)that person might be experiencing what can be called "chronic low-grade depression." Some of the symptoms can be seen as: sadness, lack or loss of pleasure, tiredness and fatigue, and fluctuations in one's weight. These symptoms are basically the same that are found in major depression. They just tend to be less severe and generally last longer (major depression) usually fades in about six months.

Marcia - gloomy, mixed thoughts and uncontrolled moods that seems to never lift will not disappear without some help. I would suggest that talk-therapy and anti-depressants is a good start. These two modes of treatment often work very well together. There are many studies that would support this regimen of treatment.

Lastly, most of the people treated for "chronic low-grade depression" using talk-therapy and anti-depressants can generally see a light at the end of the tunnel and realize benefits and notice exceptional improvement and eventually get better.- And, that's my opinion. Make your own decisions. You decide.

Bradley W. Kuhns, Ph.D., O.M.D.
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Dr. Kuhns can be reached by e-mail at:
bradleykuhns@gmail.com