Depression affects twice as many women as men. Why? It might be hormones, such as progesterone and estrogens which turn women�s organism upside-down at several points in their life, such as monthly menstruation, pregnancy, after giving birth, abortion, pre-menopause and during menopause.

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But recent research suggests that there are not more depressed women than men, simply more of them diagnosed as such. It seems men are still wary of admitting they are depressed, refuse to see a doctor and refuse help from those close to them. Still, they turn more often to alcohol and have more thoughts about death and suicide. Indeed, the suicide rate among men is four times that of women.

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Causes
They can be endogenous, exogenous or a mix of both. The first occur when it is confirmed that several members of the family have had the disease. This suggests the disease can be inherited because of a biological predisposition. Psychological predisposition is another endogenous cause characterized by low self-esteem and a pessimistic vision of all that one does and that which surrounds them.
The exogenous causes are diseases which a person or someone in their family suffers� from cerebral-vascular accidents, heart attacks, cancer, Parkinson�s and hormonal problems as well as environmental factors. The latter include the loss of a loved one, problems relating to others, work and money problems.

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Many times depression is triggered by a combination of all these factors.

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Symptoms
Experiencing five or more of the following symptoms for two weeks or more suggests you have depression:
-�A sad, depressed or down-trodden mood
- Loss of interest in activities you used to enjoy
- Loss of sex drive
- Loss of weight and appetite, or a large increase in weight
- Insomnia, sleepiness or a feeling that you don�t want to get out of bed
- Fatigue, loss of energy and a sensation of physical and mental exhaustion
- Suicide attempts or recurrent thoughts about death
- Feelings of uselessness, guilt and pessimism
- Agitation, anxiety and irritability
- Difficulty in concentrating, paying attention, remembering and making decisions
- Physical symptoms such as headaches, pain in the nape, back, near the heart, in the digestive tract, anxiety and chronic pain.

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You must always see a professional. First is the general practitioner, who will carry out a complete medical checkup and hold an interview to see if the person consumes alcohol or drugs and if there is a history of depression in the family. He or she will also run analytical tests. Afterward, if necessary the patient is sent to a psychiatrist or psychologist.
The treatment can involve medication, therapy or both. Antidepressant medication is generally used in cases of moderate to severe depression. Psychotherapy, based on conversation and behavior, gives better results in cases of mild depression.

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It is important that the patient not end the therapy just because they start feeling better. Relapses can be awful. Also, they must go off their medication gradually rather than suddenly, in order to avoid symptoms of cold turkey.

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Tips:
- You must set realistic goals and verbalize thoughts of recognition when the they have been achieved, such as I did it or I fulfilled my objective.
- Doing exercise, taking part in group social activities, going to the countryside, to the movies or any other activity that gets your mind off your depression is a big help.
- Any big decision should be put off until after the depression goes away.
- Replace negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of thinking nothing goes right for me, we should say to ourselves things will go right if I put my mind to it.
- Don�t reject help from or the company of relatives, friends and loves ones.
- Don�t stop the treatment until the doctor says so.
- Relatives and friends must be understanding and patient. They should not accuse or blame the depressed person for their condition, nor expect it to end overnight. The best way to treat a depressed person is to listen attentively and show you love them and want them to get better.

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