Sunday, November 23, 2008

Depression Cures

By Jackson Katz

There are many different types of depression. Even though many Americans suffer from depression, they either don't know it, or if they do, they won't admit it. Depression afflicts about 14 million Americans. Fewer than 4.7 million of those, about 1/3, will seek medical help.

Why do depressed folks not seek treatment? Probably because people do not want to be considered mentally ill. Depression is considered a mental illness. That label is one people tend to avoid. It wasn't that long ago that society shunned those who were categorized with mental illness. In many cases those with slight signs of depression were locked away in state institutions for the mentally ill. Times have changed now, thank goodness. But the old stereotypes are still with us. Many Americans keep their problem to themselves, motivated by this.

Depression isn't easy to diagnose. Genetics, biology, outside influences and many other elements need to be considered. In addition, depression can stem from drug or alcohol abuse, or even from simple everyday stress. These are all factors in causes depression.

Fortunately there are just as many treatments and cures for depression as there are causes for depression. It comes down to a case by case consideration as to which options are best for someone who suffers depression.

A lot of claimed cures for depression exist. Many of the treatment methods available are safe and work efficiently towards a cure for depression. When considering which option is best there are a few considerations that must be examined. Is the treatment proven clinically to be effective for depression? If it is medication, herbal or prescription, does it have the proven amount of ingredients to induce a positive result? Has the method been tested under an appropriate level of scientific method? Some of the most popular treatments deserve a look.

Prescription drugs and psychotherapy has been the most common treatment plan for many forms of depression. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, or SSRI, is a typical type of drug recommended for depression treatment. In 1988 Prozac was first used and today it is one of the most popular. Some other drugs that have become available after Prozac, are Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox. Case history shows all of these to be effective.

These drugs do have a lot of side effects, though. That is why natural cures are becoming so popular today. St Johns Wort extract is one herbal cure gaining popularity quickly. To be effective it must contain around 3-5% hyperforin. Studies and actual cases show it to be as effective as Prozac but with fewer side effects. Seeking a cure is important, but so is convincing people to get help. If you or someone you know suffers from depression seek medical attention immediately.

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