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Baby boomers want it all. They have seen success, for the most part, but at what cost? In the United States and around the world, depression is the most common disability. It is often found in baby boomers. It is unfortunate that it is often mis-diagnosed and not treated.

Why is it that boomers have a better chance of having major depression? The answer is that in the daily quest for success and wealth, as well as in the effort of raising healthy children, a stressful situation can be created. Baby boomers show higher rates of depression than do previous generations. Studies show that stress is a major reason for this.

Although baby boomers often feel that chronic fatigue is simply a fact of life, if it is left untreated it may lead not only to depression, but also to potential thyroid disease or sleep apnea. Excessive fatigue should not be seen as normal and thus shouldn't be left untreated.

Women are more likely to be depressed than men. Females have cyclical and hormonal changes that often add to the depression. Menopause, perimenopause, and PMS all contribute to depression. The hormonal changes after childbirth can also lead to a major depressive episode.

It's a shame that depression is frequently misdiagnosed and not treated. Research shows that in may suicide cases involving adults, these people have visited their doctor shortly beforehand. In fact, as many as 20 percent had been to their doctor the same day, double this number within a week, and as much as 70 percent had seen their doctor in the last month.

So where does one go for help? First of all, to your primary care doctor. Hypertension and depression are the two biggest reasons for medical visits. That said, you must be honest about your problem. Otherwise, your doctor cannot be blamed for a bad diagnosis. You should make sure your doctor understands the extent and severity of your depression. You are not the only one with this problem, remember. There is little social stigma anymore over depression and most mental illnesses. If you're asked whether you've had suicidal thoughts, or thoughts of harming others, make sure to be up-front about it. That will be the first step of the treatment and might save your life.

Most doctors make use of medications that will raise serotonin and norepinephrine levels in the brain. These neurotransmitters help nerve cells communicate within the brain. One common medication used to treat depression is Prozac, a drug that does not have as many side-effects as its predecessors. Remember that some medications will not work for some people, while others will. Keep trying until you find the right one.

There are times when medication is insufficient to get someone out of a bout of depression. In those cases, the doctor often will recommend psychotherapy to get at the root causes of the problem. Many boomers will cringe at the thought of trying to fit in yet another thing every week. They feel like relying solely on their medication to help them. But for a majority of people, this kind of stressful, busy lifestyle exacerbated the depression from the start.

Don't underestimate the benefits of therapy. You can learn relaxation and breathing techniques, and your therapist can help you organize your life. They can also help you look at the specific reasons for your depression. It's typical to see improvement between six and eight weeks after therapy begins. It might take longer than this for childhood trauma survivors.

Depression can be a lonely illness, and people affected by it often suffer silently. You have the option to treat it. First recognize the problem and get help. Depression can cause many problems, and even ruin your personal and family life. Learn all you can about it, and get a good therapist to help you get your life back on track. Some people have been depressed for years without knowing it. A good therapist can help figure out at what point the depression began.

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