Depression Quiz

This loss of interest usually causes problems with sleeping and eating. Brief periods of depressed mood are normal.

Depression can occur as early as childhood. The most common ages for depression are from 30 to 50. Symptoms of the disease can occur at any age, though, and should be treated by a health care professional.

Some research says more women than men have depression because of certain stresses that many women face. These include major responsibilities at home and work, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents. How these factors may affect women isn't yet fully understood. All people have stress. In women hormones may affect how they handle the stress. Just as in men, hormones may raise the risk for heart attack in the face of stress.

Put them off until your depression lifts.

Seek help if you have any of these problems for more than 2 weeks.

Ask what is wrong if someone seems depressed. Be a sounding board. It may help the person figure out what started the depression.

Instead of trying to solve the person’s problems, do active listening. Acknowledge what the person is saying without judging him or her. Encourage the person to talk about experiences that he or she enjoys. Let the person know that he or she is important to you.

L-tyrosine is also helpful. It is an amino acid that converts to norepinephrine in the body.

Serious mental illness has a significant impact on the U.S. and costs more than $193 billion a year in lost earnings.