How many of you have experienced depression in your life?

[Prairie Purrs]

I think arguing over who's *really* depressed (like it's some sort of privilege) entirely misses the point.

All teenagers go through hormonal changes, and those hormonal changes often cause mood swings. If those mood swings feel out of control, it's time to talk to someone you trust and, perhaps, to a doctor. Who cares whether you technically fall into the "clinically depressed" category--the important thing is whether you feel you need some help to weather the storm.

Am I surprised that so many people report problems with depression? No. Depression has a strong genetic component, and things that are genetic in nature tend to increase over time (unless, of course, it's a genetic problem that precludes reproduction).

Depression also can be related to traumatic events. Not only do we experience trauma (death of loved ones, divorce, job loss) in our personal lives, we're bombarded with horrible images on television.

No one who says she is so sad she wants to die (and yes, more women suffer from depression than men) should be told that she "isn't really depressed" and that she should just get over it like "normal" people. Someone who feels that miserable, even temporarily, should get some professional help. Maybe it is something that you can talk over and then feel better. Maybe it's something more.

And am I surprised that 32 people (at last count) out of all of the people who visit PT report some experience with depression? Of course not. For one thing, that doesn't mean that a majority of people at PT are depressed. It means a majority of people who have looked at this thread (which means they have some interest in the topic of depression) and who have chosen to respond to the poll report that they are or have been depressed. Viewed in that light, it's a pretty low number.

I, for one, would much rather that more people who suffer prolonged periods of sadness and feelings of worthlessness ask themselves (and their doctors) whether they may be suffering from depression. I'd rather more people get symptoms of depression checked out just as they'd go to the doctor with a high fever. Only when people start to think of depression the way they'd think of another illness will the stigma and the inequitable treatment (by insurance companies and others) finally go away.