Judy who recently got a divorce and left to take care of two kids ages 7 and 10 is on the verge of breaking down. She is often overwhelmed at how her marriage failed and how her husband of 14 years could treat her as if they never loved each other. She always depended on her husband for just about everything, fixing broken things in the house, paying the bills,  buying a new house for the kids to live in, sorting out their debts, and even for just picking the right dress for the occasion.

But suddenly, she was alone. Alone in every aspect of decision making. Alone in paying the bills, looking after the well-being of her children, while trying to earn a living as a customer service representative in a well-known retail store. She goes home so tired, she is mentally and physically drained from taking calls and assisting angry customers. Upon reaching her home, she is still expected to do the cooking and satisfy her kids’ demands for attention.

One day, she just sat in front of the t.v set, staring at the screen without really watching the show. She felt very sad at how her life turned out. Instead of seeking help and companionship, she avoided her own family and whoever was left of her few friends. After the break up of her marriage, she saw everything as black and bleak. A dark cloud hung over her. She slowly lost interest in going to work. Soon, she found herself locked up at home. She was in the pit of despair.

She was scared of being a single parent. Judy found herself in the middle of depression. It is condition that afflicts millions of people around the world.

Depression is a common condition in fast, high pressure societies. Studies shows that women are likely to be more depressed than men in the United States. Depression is a prolonged deep sadness and the symptoms are the following:

l Drastic change in appearance and appetite, either weight gain or weight loss
l Emptiness and pessimism
l Feeling overly tired or lethargic
l Thoughts of suicide
l Restlessness and/or Irritability
l Difficulty in concentrating
l Being so forgetful
l Feelings of guilt
l Loss of interest in usual hobbies

The degree of depression depends on how person goes under the degree of mental trauma. As we get older we may gradually experience some loses in the previous years like relatives, spouses and friends due to death or illness. Our body simply cannot take so much stress.  in most recent years a lot doctors are giving antidepressant prescriptions like Prozac, Wellburin etc…as a new generation type of cure and a host of the most effective antidepressants out there in the market, but taking medications alone is not a 100% guaranteed.

A depressed person would likely get over it, if there is an caring friend or a close relative that can be supportive. True enough,  depression makes the person go to extreme mood swings, but giving enough patience to that person goes a long, long way. Simply do things together and make that person feel that they belong. Show that person the positive and other good things in life. It might be tiring at first but, if you are there for the long haul, make sure that person is getting the professional help he or she can get to overcome this depression.