Hundreds live their lives without realizing they are depressed. How can this be?

Tina's post about depression being exacerbated by certain medications got me wondering about the so-called natural anti-depressants like Sam-e and St. John's Wart.

Many doctors advice depressed patients to take them alongside prescription medications for depression, particularly when the prescriptions are not working well.

Research into these herbal anti-depressives is usually positive, particularly St. John's Wart.

Has anyone tried these herbal supplements? What was the outcome? Did you have a positive or negative experience or did you notice any difference at all?

im average size but a little top heavy from breasts

As I try to write this I am Flashing. I had a Hysterectomy 2 and 1/2 years ago. I am 55 years old. Ever since the surgery I have massive mood swings,hot flashes and night sweats. I can't sleep without a sleeping pill and now I add a muscle relaxer because of my resistance to the sleeping pills. I take Estratest but does not seem to help much. I have been on anti-depressants for 20 years my dosage had to be increased since the surgery. I read your article in the newpaper today and copied it at work.

I would like to know if my stress from taking care of a wheeelchair and bed bound spouse affect any of my current conditions. I know if I get away for a couple of hours I feel much better, but it tires me out. I could easily sleep most of the day if I had time.
I had serious surgery in Nov 2007 for an ulcer that would not heal so nopw there are medications, such as for Ostoperosis that I can no longer take. Also I can no longer take Celebrex for my arthritis.
Any suggestions for substitutes?
Thanks

How do you know if you have depression or are stressed or just sad? I just read an article that says depression has many factors (social, financial, biological, mental, etc.), which sounds like stress, right?

I thought depression meant there was a chemical imbalance that occurs in someone's body, with no clear 'reason' for why they are depressed. If there is a 'reason', then it is sadness or grief or another condition.

Please help me understand the differences between these three (depression, sadness and stress), thanks.

There are many situations and occurrences in life that can test the strength of a family unit, including environmental factors, physical factors, mental factors, biological factors and social factors. It could be one of these factors, or a combination of two or more, that affects either one or two individuals within the family unit or the entire family unit as a whole; whatever it is that impacts the family, it can have a huge impact on the families overall mental health.

Friends and Colleagues,

We are facing serious health freedom consequences in the US that have not been mentioned during the nightly news.  Please take a moment to look at the attached Health Freedom Alert regarding vaccinations which will, for the first time in US history, make infant and toddler vaccinations MANDATORY.   I have researched the rise in number of infant thru 12 year old vaccinations over recent years.  The numbers are staggering.  

There are many situations and occurrences in life that can test the strength of a family unit, including environmental factors, physical factors, mental factors, biological factors and social factors. It could be one of these factors, or a combination of two or more, that affects either one or two individuals within the family unit or the entire family unit as a whole; whatever it is that impacts the family, it can have a huge impact on the families overall mental health.

One in every 12 American teens (about 2.1 million) ages 12 to 17 experienced major depression in the past year, according to a report released Tuesday by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

There was a large gender difference, with 12.7 percent of females and 4.6 percent of males reporting major depression. It's defined as a period of two weeks or longer of depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure, and at least four other symptoms -- such as problems with sleep, energy, concentration and self-image -- reflecting a change in functioning.