We all know the feeling: you wake up, feel sluggish and have trouble getting ready to tackle the day. You’d rather just stay in bed, don’t really want to interact much with others and don’t have the energy you usually have. Basically, you feel kind of “blah.” Even so, you pull yourself together, go to work and have a decent enough day. The next day you’re back to your old self, and those other feelings are just a memory. While it’s an uncomfortable way to feel, in clinical terms it really isn’t depression. It’s normal to feel that way on occasion.

Given that the holiday season is upon us, it seemed like the right time to write an article on the subject of depression. This is a time of year many people look forward to with both excitement and trepidation. It’s also a time when some may experience heightened states of feeling depressed. There are several forms of depression to consider, such as that which occurs in the context of bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression), and dysthymia, which is a less severe, though fairly chronic condition that generally waxes and wanes for years. Additionally, post-partum depression is one that occurs in some women following childbirth, and seasonal affective disorder (SAD) has its onset during the winter months when there is less natural sunlight.

Major depression, however, is probably the form most people think of when the term depression is used. The diagnosis is not made unless someone experiences five or more of the following symptoms for at least a two week period: depressed mood, sleep and appetite disturbance, poor concentration, inability to derive pleasure, low energy, agitation, feelings of worthlessness and thoughts of death/suicide. Typically, major depression will also have an impact on important areas of functioning, such as with work and relationships. This is by no means a rare condition. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults and is the leading cause of disability for people ages 15-44.

So what can you do if you or a loved one suffers from depression? The combination of anti-depressant medication and psychotherapy is generally the best approach. There are, however, many forms of each, and so a good place to start may be to consult with your primary physician as they generally have a lot of experience with depression.

One final note about thoughts of suicide: always take them seriously. When someone is feeling such hopelessness and despair it’s not unusual for suicidal thoughts to surface. It is at those times that loved ones have to intervene. Taking the person to their physician or to an emergency room may be necessary and even calling the police is an option if you believe there is imminent risk and the individual is not cooperating in seeking help. While it’s often an uncomfortable topic to discuss openly, the consequences of not doing so can be much, much worse.

— Scott M. Granet

Scott  Granet, LCSW is a long-time resident of Redwood Shores, and is director of the OCD-BDD Clinic of Northern California in Redwood City. He would like to hear your suggestions for future columns, and can be reached at 650-599-3325 or .