Depression is more than sadness or feeling depressed for a few days. A serious condition that can last months or even years, that's depression.

According to various reports as many as fifteen million Americans suffer from this disease. Only about 4.5 million of those people seek help, which is unfortunate. All too often people avoid recognizing or admitting that they suffer from depression because of the negative archetypes associated with mental illnesses. Depression gets worse with time. Without treatment it will take over your life. Ignorance in this case isn't bliss.

Depression is caused by a variety of factors. Physical and emotional problems, chemical issues, even DNA all play a part. The day to day lives of the victim may even have a role. Stress and other negative influences have been known to contribute. It takes a lot of knowledge to address a complex issue like depression. We also recognize the intricacy of man's mind. Work continues into the mind and brain and how they work, what makes them tick. We know that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Researches learn more about this complex series of actions and reactions with passing time. Better treatments come from more knowledge.

There are a variety of medications available to treat depression. Miracle treatments also exist, but many times these are empty claims. Make sure the treatment has been studied and scientifically proven to address depression. There was a time in our history if you were afflicted by anything that was associated with mental illness you were thrown into a mental ward and lost in the system. It's good to know that's no longer the case. It was 1988 when Prozac, an anti-depressant, first came into wide use in America. It has bee proven effective and is still in use today although it does come with side effects.

A new class of anti-depressants has become widely used since then. Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors, SSRI, are being used today. These include Paxil, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa, and Luvox. These work even though they too show some side effects. The market is also ripe with herbal medications and treatments. Hyperforin, an ingredient in the St. John Wort extract, is common in those that seem to work as well as anti-depressants. When this is present in the proper quantity it is a winner. When seeking depression medications that work ask questions, do your research, and know the facts.

Evan