Three American Olympic swimmers&mdash;Missy Franklin, Allison Schmitt and Michael Phelps&mdash;have spoken up about their battle with high-stakes depression in hopes that sharing their stories will ease the stigma around mental health diseases and help ot

What Happens If I Stop Taking My Antidepressants?

More than 15% of Americans will have an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. Anxiety affects people for many reasons, but an anxiety disorder can be crippling. Benzodiazepines like Xanax, Valium or Ativan are being used more and more to control 

Anti-Anxiety Meds Kill Thousands Every Year

Heart disease and other illnesses can affect depression. Learn more from our experts about depression.

Chronic illnesses are very often the cause of depression. The risk for depression is high in people diagnosed with chronic illness. To avoid adding another diagnosis to your chronic disease, you must focus on finding a good support group that does not focus on negative issues and work with physicians that do not scare you into getting depressed. Family and friend support are also key and a good therapist may be what the doctor ordered for you to work out the issues associated with the diagnosis of a chronic illness.

How do other illnesses affect depression?

After you are diagnosed with OCD, your doctor will likely prescribe antidepressants. Learn more from our experts about obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Some people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) will take a type of medicine called a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, SSRI for short. This is a tablet taken once or twice every day for as long as needed. The medicine can help people feel less anxious. Some people with OCD do cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), some take medication and some do both.

What medications help treat obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)?

Who can I turn to for support if I have depression? Consider joining a depression support group or talking to a counselor. Learn more from our experts about depression.

One thing you can do to maintain your happiness is to form a study group. This will accomplish two things. First, you will bring your struggle out of the darkness if you have felt alone in your depression. Second, you can support each other in your efforts to keep the focus positive and find the gifts of your depression. Listening to your pain while accepting your happiness is not an easy path to stay on, and the people in your support group can help you by providing feedback if you go too far in one direction or another. Others can point out if you are not listening to your pain, or if you are not giving yourself full permission to experience the happiness of healing your life.

Who can I turn to for support if I have depression?

Giving a child or adult a deficit-disorder label can impair confidence and motivation, which may create a clinical depression. Learn more from our experts about ADHD and depression.

Many individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) experience symptoms of depression with a low mood. Often, the depression results from years of relationship problems, failed attempts at school or work, and low self-esteem caused by ADHD behaviors. Some people with ADHD have coexisting mood disorders, such as depression, which require a specific diagnosis and treatment by a medical doctor.

Doctors usually prescribe an antidepressant and/or cognitive therapy to treat mood disorders such as depression with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Specifically, antidepressants, such as Norpramin, may benefit the symptoms of depression and ADHD. Other antidepressants, such as Prozac, may be prescribed along with stimulants for ADHD. Some newer antidepressants may benefit people with ADHD and depression, including the drugs Effexor and Wellbutrin.&nbsp;

Cognitive therapy may benefit people with ADHD and depression by helping them reframe their thoughts and actions.

What is the link between ADHD and depression?

How is depression related to drug abuse? Many people with depression turn to alcohol or drugs, eventually developing a dependence or addiction. Learn more from our experts about depression.

Depression and alcoholism can be related. In the general population, about 30-50% of alcoholics also have depression. The two disorders are frequently seen together in veterans, and either one can come first. Existing problems with alcohol may bring on depression, and depression may lead to veterans&rsquo; abuse of alcohol in order to &ldquo;feel better&rdquo; or self-medicate. Both problems need to be treated in order for the veteran to recover. If you have a family history of depression or alcoholism, you will be more at risk of developing these conditions yourself. Alcohol increases depression symptoms and impulsive behavior, and major depression combined with alcohol abuse increases the likelihood of suicide by motor vehicle or overdose. When the use of alcohol is eliminated, depressed patients see a significant decrease in symptoms within three to four weeks.

How is depression related to drug abuse?

In many places around the world, there has been increasing emphasis on recovery and active illness management for people with depression. Learn more from our experts about depression.

Give yourself full permission to experience your new life without depression. Change is uncomfortable, and that discomfort is part of the human condition. If you were depressed for a long time, it may feel strange to now be without your depression. Just remind yourself that change is uncomfortable&mdash;even positive change. Tell yourself you are willing to feel unsettled for a short while in exchange for a life without depression.

You may also have to give yourself permission to live a happy life when others around you are still depressed.

You may be surrounded by people who are still depressed, even though you have recovered. Misery loves company, as they say. If you are in this situation, do not let yourself be pulled down by the others around you. You may fear that the new happy you will not be accepted by others who knew you when you were depressed. One way to handle this situation is to give yourself permission to set a new standard. Let yourself be the role model of happiness in your circle of friends or family. Think of someone you know who has been an inspiration to you. If you have succeeded in healing your life, let yourself become the inspiration for others.

Dr. Gary Rusk, MD

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Dr. Gary Rusk, MD

Dr. Rusk's Locations

Practices

Dr. Rusk's Accepted Insurance Carriers & Plans

Dr. Rusk's Accepted
Insurance
Carriers & Plans