Having treated thousands of patients with depression, I appreciate the courage it takes for the author to "open up" about his experience during an episode of depression.
Adding to the other comments made, I'd emphasize major depression is a serious illness, every bit as "physical" as other diseases. It's a leading cause of disability worldwide, and affects >8% of the American population any given year. The economic burden of depression in the US is truly staggering: costing the nation nearly $200 billion a year.
Depression often responds to one or more forms of treatment. Medications can often help but significant side effects are a risk. Psychotherapies, CBT and interpersonal therapy have proven effect. Exercise, nutritional factors, light exposure, social support have all been shown to be beneficial to some degree.
The most important thing to do is seek competent help from one or more resources. There is no simple or singular "answer" to a hugely complex problem. There's no recipe or formula that will work the same in any two people.
Treatment has to be "custom fit" for each person, that is the art of medicine in the real world. Finding what works may not be quick or easy, but the effort usually pays off. No cure is promised, but most patients do make progress.
Success may not be easy, but I am stubborn, insist on keeping at it, using every tool at our disposal, and say "it's not a failure until we stop trying".
Adding to the other comments made, I'd emphasize major depression is a serious illness, every bit as "physical" as other diseases. It's a leading cause of disability worldwide, and affects >8% of the American population any given year. The economic burden of depression in the US is truly staggering: costing the nation nearly $200 billion a year.
Depression often responds to one or more forms of treatment. Medications can often help but significant side effects are a risk. Psychotherapies, CBT and interpersonal therapy have proven effect. Exercise, nutritional factors, light exposure, social support have all been shown to be beneficial to some degree.
The most important thing to do is seek competent help from one or more resources. There is no simple or singular "answer" to a hugely complex problem. There's no recipe or formula that will work the same in any two people.
Treatment has to be "custom fit" for each person, that is the art of medicine in the real world. Finding what works may not be quick or easy, but the effort usually pays off. No cure is promised, but most patients do make progress.
Success may not be easy, but I am stubborn, insist on keeping at it, using every tool at our disposal, and say "it's not a failure until we stop trying".