Depression is more than sadness or feeling depressed for a few days. Depression can last for years, it’s a serious illness. According to various reports as many as fifteen million Americans suffer from this disease. The sad fact is that only a third of those Americans will ever seek help for their affliction. All too often people avoid recognizing or admitting that they suffer from depression because of the negative archetypes associated with mental illnesses. Depression is a progressive illness. Without treatment it will take over your life. It cannot be ignored.

A variety of factors, and even combinations of these factors, lead to the many types of depression. It can by biological, genetic, physical and emotional. Simple daily life and surroundings are important. It can be caused by stress brought on by even more detrimental factors. It takes a lot of knowledge to address a complex issue like depression. We also recognize the intricacy of man’s mind. Work continues into the mind and brain and how they work, what makes them tick. It’s clear that it’s an imbalance of chemical compounds in the brain that creates depression. More about the way this process works is learned each day. The phrase is “learning is half the battle” and with depression knowledge is power.

Depression treatment comes from a variety of medications on the market. Of course the market is full of ‘quick fix’ antidotes. You have to be careful to seek medications that have been clinically studied and have been proven to display positive effects in the treatment of depression. There was a time in our history if you were afflicted by anything that was associated with mental illness you were thrown into a mental ward and lost in the system. It’s good to know that’s no longer the case. In 1988 the anti-depressant ‘Prozac’ first hit the market in the United States. It has bee proven effective and is still in use today although it does come with side effects.

Since that time more and more use has been made of a new class of anti-depressants. Currently depression is being treated with SSRI or (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) such as Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox. These have limited side effects and have been shown to work. Herbal medications also have a place in this market. The majority of these that have been proven to work as well as the anti-depressants contain the St. John Wort extract ingredient called ‘hyperforin’. When this is present in the proper quantity it is a winner. When seeking depression medications that work ask questions, do your research, and know the facts.

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