Is it depression or just the blues?

Editor's note: This is the first of two columns looking at depression.

There are times when we all feel sad or down in the dumps. Like it or not, such feelings are a normal part of life.

Clinical depression, however, goes beyond such expected emotional valleys. At its worst, such depression can be a debilitating condition that affects every part of our life - physical, emotional, relational, spiritual.

Most research now suggests that depression can have a multiplicity of causes. It can arise in response to what is going on in our friendships or marriages or relationships with our children. Perhaps it has something to do with our jobs.

On the other hand, sometimes our depression has more to do with what is going on in our own hearts and minds: how we are dealing with middle age, our struggle with a chronic illness or disability, giving up cherished hopes and dreams. Our depression in the here and now can even stem from unresolved issues from years, even decades, ago.

Depression also can be caused by certain chemical imbalances in our bodies. Our biochemistry may make us more prone to depression, or make our depressions more severe when they are caused by other factors.

To further complicate matters, it is likely that most depression is caused by a combination of environmental, psychological and physiological factors. That is often what makes depression so hard to identify and treat.

It is also not always easy to determine when we are just feeling down and when we are actually depressed. Mental health professionals have come up with a check list of symptoms that point to the possibility of clinical depression.

If we experience five or more of these symptoms for two or more weeks, they suggest we check out the possibility that we are struggling with actual depression. The symptoms they've identified are:

1. Loss of interest or pleasure in things we once enjoyed.

2. Feeling hopeless, helpless or worthless.

3. Changes in our sleeping habits.

4. Feeling sad or irritable without cause.

5. Change in appetite or weight.

6. Having a hard time concentrating or making decisions.

7. Loss of energy; always feeling tired.

8. Forgetting or losing track of things.

9. Thinking about death or suicide.

No such check list is fool proof. If we are experiencing a number of these symptoms and they don't go away in a few weeks, though, it is probably a good idea to have them checked out.

We can start with a call to a mental health professional, our family physician, or anyone else who is trained to help us sort out what's going on. Treating depression can involve psychotherapy (i.e. talking to a therapist), psychopharmacology (taking an antidepressant medication) or both. Almost all depression can be alleviated; what it takes and how long it takes depends a lot on our own unique circumstances.

There is some evidence that, at least in our part of the country, depression is more common in the winter months than at other times of the year. It is probably a good idea, then, to keep an eye on our own thoughts, feelings and behaviors, as well as those of friends and family members.

We also need to remember that there are plenty of people out there who care and are ready to help.

• Dr. Ken Potts is on the staff of Samaritan Counseling Center in Naperville and Downers Grove. He is the author of "Mix Don't Blend, A Guide to Dating, Engagement and Remarriage With Children."