Ten things you might not know about depression

Most major depressions do not occur during the holidays; they happen in summer. Here are 10 other little-known facts about depression.

1. Depression distorts your thinking. When you are depressed, your mind can play tricks on you. If you have thoughts of suicide, call someone right away. Don't let a temporary glitch cause you to harm yourself or others.

2. Depression makes you selfish. It's hard to think of others when you're wrapped in a prickly blanket of sadness and all you can think about is your own pain.

3. Depression is experienced as anxiety 65 percent of the time. Make sure you get an accurate diagnosis, so you can get the most effective treatment available.

4. Persistent irritability can be a symptom of depression. If the world, your life or your loved ones constantly tick you off, the cause might be something that's going on inside of you.

5. Chronic pain can be a symptom of depression. At the same time, being in continual discomfort can cause you to become depressed. When you are depressed and in pain, it can be hard to know which came first.

6. Alcohol is a depressant. So are marijuana and a host of other recreational or street drugs. Self-medication is not going to get you better and will surely make you worse over time. Remember that all medications, including anti-depressants, have side effects.

7. People don't choose to be depressed, but they do make a choice about how to deal with it. You can choose to do nothing, but denying that you have a problem will only make you feel worse.

8. The origin of depression can be situational and/or biochemical. If you experience mild to moderate situational depression (resulting from the loss of a job, for example), counseling will help. Most moderate to severe biochemical depressions are best treated with a combination of medicine and psychotherapy.

9. Depression can be as hard on your loved ones as it is on you. Those closest to you may start to feel unloved and may distance themselves so they aren't pulled into your pain. Remember that others are counting on you.

10. Exercise is the easiest and least expensive cure for depression. Just walking 30 minutes a day will help you.

Depression takes on many disguises, but better treatments are available today than ever before. Take advantage of them.

(Dr. Barton Goldsmith, a marriage and family therapist in Westlake Village, Calif., is the author of "Emotional Fitness for Couples. Contact him at Barton(at)BartonGoldsmith.com)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)