If you or someone you know is depressed, it's important to get help from an adult, especially a professional. Some professionals who specialize in treating depression are called psychiatrists or psychologists. Serious depression can be dangerous.

• What is depression?
• What causes depression?
• What happens in depression?
• What are the types of depression?
• What treatments exist for depression?

What is depression?

It can be hard to tell the difference between depression and normal sadness. It's normal to feel sad after upsetting events like the death of a loved one, moving to a new town, fighting with a good friend or even a bad test score.

Depression is worse than normal sadness. It involves feeling very sad, helpless, lost and hopeless for more than two weeks. You may feel like you are not able to participate in regular activities because of the sadness.

Family or friends may try to be supportive of someone who is depressed. But if they don't understand how the person feels, they may mistake the depression for an attitude problem or laziness and become upset with the depressed person. Getting angry will not help. A person who is depressed needs help, and he or she may even need medication.

Symptoms of depression include:

• Extreme sadness without cause
  
• Feeling very tired or lazy
  
• Not liking activities that were once enjoyable
  
• Putting distance between friends and family
  
• Anger, fear or anxiety
  
• Insomnia (not being able to fall asleep)
  
• Sleeping too much
  
• Unexplained change in appetite or weight
  
• Lower grades
  
• Not going out with friends as much
  
• Trouble concentrating
  
• Feeling impatient
  
• Feeling useless
  
• Causing self injury
  
• Thoughts of suicide or death

If any of these symptoms are present for more than two weeks, the person may be depressed and should seek professional help.

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What causes depression?

Depression can be caused by many things. Below are some of the causes of depression:

• Genetics (runs in families)
  
• Loss of someone or something
  
• Big life changes
  
• Medical problems
  
• Violence or bad living situation
  
• Alcohol or drugs

While depression can run in families, there is no guarantee that a person will suffer depression just because another family member has experienced it. Genetics is just one factor, and someone without any depression in his or her family history can also become depressed.

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What happens in depression?

Depression occurs when there is a chemical imbalance in the brain. Neurotransmitters, which transmit (send and receive) brain signals, can affect mood. If there are not enough of the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, a person can become depressed. There are medicications that balance the neurotransmitters to treat depression.

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What are the types of depression?

There are three main types of depression.

1. Major depression: severe depression that comes and goes
   
2. Dysthymia: long-lasting depression, but not as severe as major depression
   
3. Adjustment disorder with depressed mood: a reaction to a loss or change with a more serious reaction than average

Another type of depression is seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a depression that comes and goes with the seasons. If someone becomes depressed in the winter but feels normal in the spring, they may have SAD. This type of depression occurs because of a decrease in sunlight during the winter.

Another condition called bipolar disorder involves a pattern of very good moods and high energy (mania) and very bad moods (depression). These changes of mood can happen almost instantly or be more gradual. The moods can last anywhere from hours to months. It can seem like a person has two different personalities, and people close to that person never know what to expect.

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What treatments exist for depression?

If someone is depressed, there are three main treatment options: talking to a therapist, taking medication or doing both. If you think you are depressed, talk to an adult who can help you figure out which treatment might be best for you. It's important to get help because depression may be hard to overcome without treatment.

In some bad cases, depression can cause people to think about injuring or killing themselves. If you know someone who has expressed these types of feelings, don't think it's a joke. It's an emergency, and you should tell an adult right away. The person should get help immediately from a professional.

You may feel frustrated that you cannot cheer up someone who is depressed on your own. It is important to realize that depression is a serious problem that needs serious help. However, professional treatment can help people who are depressed feel normal and happy once again.

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