Understanding depression Get the facts about depression More than one in every 20 adults in the U.S. suffers from depression each year.1 Ongoing sadness and loss of interest in life are symptoms of depression. Unlike normal sadness or grief, depression won’t go away on its own. If you have depression, you can’t just “snap out of it.” Without help, depression can go on for months or years, and it can be life-threatening.
Five causes of depression2
Brain chemistry. Researchers believe an imbalance of chemicals in your brain may cause depression. Genetics. Having a close family member with depression might increase your risk. Environment. Difficult life circumstances – like being exposed to violence or living in poverty – can make you more likely to have depression. Illness. Depression can be a symptom of another illness. Talking to a doctor is important to rule out other health problems. Stress. Stress and depression often go together. A job loss, money problems, a breakup or the loss of a loved one can all trigger depression. Even happy changes – like a new baby or a promotion at work – can cause enough stress to create major depression.
How do I know if I’m depressed? You could be depressed if you have any of these feelings:3
Sadness or anxiety that won’t go away Feeling hopeless or guilty for no reason Loss of interest in favorite activities Low energy Problems concentrating, remembering or making decisions Trouble sleeping, waking too early or oversleeping Eating too much or not wanting to eat Thoughts of death or suicide Wanting to avoid other people, including friends and family Health problems like headaches, stomach issues, and chronic pain
If you or someone you know is suicidal, call 911 right away.
Sources 1 National Institute of Mental Health, Major Depression Among Adults (accessed December 2016): http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml 2 WebMD, Common Causes of Depression (accessed December 2016): http://www.webmd.com/depression/common-causes 3 Center for Disease Control, Mental Illness: Depression (accessed December 2016): http://www.cdc.gov/mentalhealth/basics/mental-illness/depression.htm 4 Mayo Clinic, Depression: Supporting a family member or friend (accessed December 2016): http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/in-depth/depression/art-20045943 Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. Copies of Colorado network access plans are available on request from member services or can be obtained by going to anthem.com/co/networkaccess. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Georgia: Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. In Nevada: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. HMO plans are administered by Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. and underwritten by Matthew Thornton Health Plan, Inc. In Ohio: Community Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWI), underwrites or administers PPO and indemnity policies and underwrites the out of network benefits in POS policies offered by Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare) or Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Corporation (WCIC). Compcare underwrites or administers HMO or POS policies; WCIC underwrites or administers Well Priority HMO or POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. MANSH0307ABS VPOD Rev. 1/17
How can I help someone with depression?
Help them get treatment. Someone who’s depressed often feels too overwhelmed to get help. You may need to schedule appointments or remind your loved one to take medication on time.
Offer support. Listen carefully to your loved one. Try to get them interested in things they used to enjoy.
Be patient. Remember that your loved one is not trying to get attention. They’re in real pain.
Five ways to beat depression
Ask for help. Reach out to a doctor or a trusted friend or family member. Depression won’t go away by itself, so it’s important to get professional help.
Set realistic goals. Break big tasks into smaller ones so you feel less overwhelmed.
Spend time with loved ones. You might feel like hiding from the world, but being alone can make depression worse. Spend time with people you care about.
Avoid making big decisions. Depression can cloud your thinking. Discuss any big changes with people who know you well.
Be patient with yourself. Remind yourself to take it one day at a time. With time and treatment, you’ll feel like yourself again.
To get support for yourself or someone else who is struggling with depression, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255 (TALK). If someone is suicidal, call 911 right away.4
Visit anthem.com for more ways to get healthy — and stay healthy.
Manage stress to protect your health Modern-day stress Life asks a lot of us — spouses, jobs, friends, kids and pets — it can all add up and sometimes it’s more than we can handle.1 That’s when stress kicks in. Stress is actually your body’s response to danger. You know the feeling — sweaty palms, racing heartbeat, an upset stomach. The hormones released used to help people face physical threats. But because we don’t fight saber-toothed tigers anymore, the hormones aren’t as helpful to us on a regular basis.
How long-term stress affects you Nowadays, due to the demands of modern life, stress can last for weeks instead of just minutes or hours like in the past. When that happens, your system goes into overdrive and stress hormones can disrupt many of your body’s processes.2
What is stress? Stress is about the relationship between the demands of your life and the emotional resources you have to meet these demands. Demands are usually things like your job or something going on with your family. Your health, your outlook on life, your relationships with family and friends, and your money situation affect how deep your emotional reserves go. Once your emotional resources are drained, you have a hard time meeting the demands life puts on you, and you start to feel stressed.3
Tame your stress These activities can help you manage stress and keep it at bay. Give them a try today.2,4
Get out and exercise. Consider walking, jogging, biking or anything else that gets you active. Physical activity releases chemicals in your body that give you a greater sense of well-being.
If nothing you do seems to lower your stress levels, talk to your doctor. Sometimes other health problems can have similar symptoms.
Laugh out loud. Laughing lightens your mental load and does good things for your body. Laughter fires up and then cools down your stress response. Talk to friends and family. They can distract you, provide support and help you weather life’s ups and downs.
Sources 1 The American Institute of Stress, What is Stress? (accessed January 2015): stress.org 2 Mayo Clinic, Stress Relievers: Tips to Tame Stress (accessed January 2015): mayoclinic.com 3 National Institute of Mental Health, Q&A on Stress for Adults: How it affects your health and what you can do about it (accessed January 2015): nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/stress 4 Mayo Clinic, Stress Management (accessed January 2015): mayoclinic.com 5 Helpguide.org, Stress Symptoms, Signs and Causes (accessed January 2015): helpguide.org Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of: In Colorado: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc. Copies of Colorado network access plans are available on request from member services or can be obtained by going to anthem.com/co/networkaccess. In Connecticut: Anthem Health Plans, Inc. In Georgia: Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia, Inc. In Indiana: Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. In Kentucky: Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky, Inc. In Maine: Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc. In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area): RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. In Nevada: Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service, Inc. HMO products underwritten by HMO Colorado, Inc., dba HMO Nevada. In New Hampshire: Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. HMO plans are administered by Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire, Inc. and underwritten by Matthew Thornton Health Plan, Inc. In Ohio: Community Insurance Company. In Virginia: Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. trades as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia, and its service area is all of Virginia except for the City of Fairfax, the Town of Vienna, and the area east of State Route 123. In Wisconsin: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (BCBSWI), underwrites or administers PPO and indemnity policies and underwrites the out of network benefits in POS policies offered by Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (Compcare) or Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Corporation (WCIC). Compcare underwrites or administers HMO or POS policies; WCIC underwrites or administers Well Priority HMO or POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. 28840ANMENABS VPOD Rev. 12/15
Do yoga. Yoga uses both physical and mental focus to create peace of body and mind. This helps you relax and manage stress. Try yoga on your own or find a class in your area. Get more rest. Sleep recharges your brain and body. Get the right amount and you’ll improve your mood and energy level. Speak up. Saying “no” to some of the demands on your time and energy can help you keep stress at bay. Ask for help from coworkers or family members if there’s too much on your plate. Write it down. Whether you’re making a list of the things you need to do, or just writing out your feelings, jotting it down on paper can help put things into perspective. Play some tunes. Play, sing or listen to music. It relaxes your muscles and decreases stress hormones. Change your focus. Take a break from what you think you should be doing and focus on something else. Try gardening, painting, drawing, sewing, woodworking or another activity that keeps your mind off what’s stressing you out. See a counselor or therapist. A professional can help you find the sources of your stress and learn new coping tools.
Try some of these tips to live your life with less stress. Talk to your doctor if these changes do not help you. Sometimes other health problems have similar symptoms.4 Not all stress is bad. Happy events, like a new job, getting married, having a baby or buying a house can also cause stress. But too much stress for too long can be bad for your health. Stress is linked to:2,5
Higher risk of heart disease
Obesity
Digestive problems
High blood pressure
Heart palpitations and breathing problems
Memory loss
Insomnia
Depression
Trouble managing anger
Drinking too much alcohol
Helpful resources Visit WebMD’s Stress Management Health Center for information and tools to help you manage the stress in your life
Visit anthem.com for more ways to get healthy — and stay healthy.