 | ||
|
| |    Depression in Parents by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. reviewed by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. Clinical depression is more than just feeling unhappy. It is an illness, with medical causes and biological consequences. One of the symptoms of depression is the belief that things will never get better. In fact, depression often improves greatly with treatment. Parents who get treatment for their depression help themselves and their families. They have more energy to enjoy their children and more patience to guide their children's behavior. Also, their children learn that adults can have problems and can work to solve them. This helps them grow up strong and healthy. Depressed feelings, or depression? Everyone has times when they feel sad, when they lack energy and the world seems uninteresting. Sometimes these feelings arise in the wake of a serious personal loss. In the grief after the death of a loved one, for example, these feelings can be very intense and can last for several weeks or months. The fact that everybody has depressed feelings at times can make it hard to know if what you are experiencing is actual clinical depression. What can you do about depression? If you think that you might have depression, you should first talk with a doctor. It's best if this is someone you know and trust. Depression is very common, and every general practitioner, family practitioner, internist, obstetrician, nurse, and nurse practitioner has known many, many people with the condition. A general medical assessment is important to make sure that there is not some other medical cause for your symptoms. There is nothing to be ashamed of if you have depression, any more than if you had pneumonia or arthritis. Depression is an illness; it can be treated. Treatment for depression includes
Each of these approaches has its proponents, each has its pluses and minuses. What's right for you depends on your particular symptoms, what you have tried in the past, and what you are inclined to want to try. The best place to start is with your own physician or another trusted professional. Call today--you can make real changes in your life, and you don't have to do it alone.
| |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
