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You may have to try more than one drug before you and your doctor find the one that works best for you. Some people respond better to one drug or a combination of drugs than to others. Doctors prescribe antidepressant medications for a fixed period—usually 6 to 18 months—but the beneficial effects usually last long after you stop taking the drug. Many people experience anxiety along with their depression, so doctors sometimes also prescribe antianxiety medications (see previous page) for people who have depression.

In severe cases, depression may require hospitalization, especially if a person has contemplated or attempted suicide. In the hospital, the doctor will monitor the person’s condition carefully and begin treatment with drugs and psychotherapy. Temporary care in a day hospital may make it easier for a person to make the transition from the hospital to home. In a day hospital, you receive treatment at a care facility during the day and return home at night.

MY STORY

Depression

My husband died 3 years ago and I felt horrible for months. I found myself crying all the time, wanting to stay in bed all day, and avoiding my friends and even my children. Life didn’t seem worth living. I used to love spending time with my grand-children, taking them to movies and museums, but even that no longer seemed fun. My old friends kept calling me and inviting me to dinner or out to lunch and I always made up excuses not to go. I felt that no one wanted to spend time with me anyway because I was such a mope—they were just trying to be nice.

I’m grateful that my daughter pushed me to do something about my depression—I was beginning to think I would never enjoy life again.

Then one day my daughter came over to the house and sat down with me and told me how worried she was about me. She said that the children kept asking her what was wrong with Grandma and why didn’t I like to be with them anymore. She said that they all missed our big family dinners together and talked about the fun we used to have whenever we got together. She suggested that I talk to my doctor about how sad I felt all the time, but I dismissed her, saying, “There’s nothing that can be done about the way I feel, so why bother?” She told me that a friend of hers had had a severe bout of depression after her second child was born and she was able to get help from her doctor and is now feeling much better.

Even though I had no energy and little interest in doing anything for myself, my daughter seemed so upset that I finally agreed to talk to my doctor at my next appointment. I told the doctor about how sad I was all the time and how I didn’t want to do anything but sleep. He asked me questions about my life and how I felt about different things and said that he thought I might be suffering from depression. He explained that depression is common, especially in older people who have lost a spouse, and that it can be treated successfully. He prescribed a medication called paroxetine to take every day and told me that I should start feeling better after a few weeks.

The doctor also referred me to a psychiatrist for further treatment. I saw the psychiatrist regularly for about 6 months. I was able to talk openly about my feelings for the first time, and the doctor helped me learn how to cope with the death of my husband and take steps toward making a happy life for myself. I started feeling better after a couple of weeks and I stopped taking the medication after about a year. I’m enjoying my family and friends again, taking a class at a community college, and taking up some of my old hobbies. I’m grateful that my daughter pushed me to do something about my depression—I was beginning to think I would never enjoy life again.

For some severe cases of depression, psychiatrists may use electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), formerly known as electroshock therapy, in which electrical stimulation is applied to the brain (while the person is under general anesthesia) to produce a seizure (abnormal