Depression, a complex disease, can leave you feeling isolated, exhausted and hopeless. Complicating matters, depression’s perceived stigma may make you reluctant to seek help.
Comedian and mental health activist Kevin Breel captured the situation well in a TED talk: “If you break your arm, everyone runs over to sign your cast, but if you tell people you’re depressed, everyone runs the other way.”
Fortunately, help is here. “Today we have so many good options to treat depression,” says psychiatrist Raheel Khan, D.O., of Sutter Center for Psychiatry. “Most people can find an effective treatment option. It all starts with a talk with your doctor.”