The sadness is overwhelming and the situation seems hopeless; you can‘t eat or sleep; you can‘t stop thinking about it, rerunning it, adding more (gruesome) details each time until it is allâ€"encompassing. Such severe depression can have many effects. One may become listless, At the same time, however, each of us will experience severe depression during our lives â€" the loss of someone we love and depend on, such as a child, a spouse, or a close friend; a financial crisis, such as unemployment or bankruptcy; a major disappointment, such as finding out your child has joined a cult or your spouse is leaving you â€" and it can be gutâ€"wrenching stuff. emsummnmd In that sense, then, depression is no cause for alarm. There is no way to preâ€" vent some disappointments in life. veryone gets depressed. You can count on it. It‘s so widespread â€" 4% to 6% of / people suffer from it at any one time â€" that it‘s been called the "common cold of mental disorders." Depression fairly common, no cause for alarm Corporate Sportsbag plus a collareo tennis shirt when you commit yourself and/or family to a healthier lifestyle * Offer applies per full initiation fee of $195 * Offer expires February 15th, 1994 * Tennis * Fitness * Squash * Aerobics * Racquetball Swimming 960 CUMBERLAND AVE., BURLINGTON # DACOUET CLUB AUBLINATAN â€" BSURLINGTON â€" ONTARIO It is also, however, a time to keep a close eye on that person. Sometimes, depression does not take its normal It can still be pretty frightening to watch someone you know and love all of a sudden act so differently, seem so unkind and uncaring. It is a time to be particularly sensitive, tolerant, and lovâ€" ing; it is a time to understand what that person may be going through; ease demands, overlook foibles, ignore emoâ€" tional and irrational outbursts. Whether depression is mild or excruâ€" ciating, it has a normal course to run. It will be most severe at the beginning, and then will gradually ease in intensity. The passage of time â€" a gradual reâ€" emergence in social and work activities, and the support of loved ones â€" will disâ€" tract you, help you rationalize the loss, and get you thinking more about the future. In most cases, this happens natuâ€" rally, without any special planning. As a result, a marriage may suffer, friends may avoid you, family members may become angry, ashamed, or embarâ€" rassed, work may suffer. In short, depression can have widespread effects. It‘s no longer just a matter of easing the depression, but quickly becomes one of reshaping marital, work, social, and family attitudes and activities. apathetic, and isolated; one may tend to think negative things and feel like a failâ€" ure; people and activities usually enjoyed are no longer sought after. course. Sometimes people get more and more isolated and down on the world, instead of less; sometimes the depresâ€" sion lasts longer than it should; someâ€" times people don‘t know why they‘re depressed, or the depression is much too severe for the loss suffered. In such cases, the person may need The treatment of depression remains controversial in scientific circles. Some researchers insist depression has a bioâ€" professional help. A commonly used guideline is that if the depression lasts more than two or three weeks and interâ€" feres with normal daily activities, proâ€" fessional advise is recommended. Over the past 10 years, however, psychological research has focussed on shorter term treatments with some sucâ€" cess, as we‘ll see next week. logical basis. For example, scientists find fewer neurotransmitters (chemicals vital to the regulation of moods) in the brain during depression.