http://edsonlegal.com/our-expertise/depression-chronic-pain-fibromyalgia-and-sleep-disorders/ | Depression is a combination of psychological, biological, and social factors that add to the imbalance of the brain. Depression can also be associated with the feeling of guilt, not feeling worthy or helplessness.

2. • The feeling of sadness is a common and momentary
experience among people every day. Depression,
however, tends to be more persistent and occur for
extended periods of time.
• Where it is conventional for a person to feel sad from
time to time, depression can be much more unshakable
to the point where the person feels a loss of control.
• Depression is often also characterized by feelings of
guilt, worthlessness and helplessness. If not identified
and treated properly, depressed feelings can worsen and
last for days.

3. • General signs for depression vary on an
individual level. There are emotional, physical
and behavioral signs, including but not limited
to:
• Emotional – sadness, mood swings, anger,
helplessness, anxiety
• Physical – sleeping problems, eating problems,
increase in headaches or muscle pains
• Behavioral – loss of daily interests, loss of
focus, loss of energy
Common Signs

4. • The combination of psychological, biological and
social factors contribute to the chemical imbalance of
the brain.
• Some illnesses are specific in their cause, making
the treatment very simple. Depression, on the other
hand, is much more complex and individualistic.
• Popular risk factors for depression can include a
sense of loneliness, lack of social support, past
trauma, health problems, financial strain and much
more.

5. • Fibromyalgia (chronic fatigue syndrome) – Widespread
muscle pain and aches associated with fatigue, sleep
deprivation and depression.
• Sleep Disorder – Difficulty staying awake or remaining
asleep, irritability, loss of memory and more.
• PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) – Recurrence of
unwanted memories, sleeping problems, inability to
emote, easily frightened or nervous and more.

6. • In the way that depression is unique to the individual,
treatment is the same. Each person may need a different
degree of help in certain areas than others.
• In general, first understanding and identifying the
initial cause of the depression can help provide answers
to the most effective treatment approach.
• Explore as many treatment options as you can. The
best approach would be a combination of lifestyle
changes, social support and professional assistance.

7. • Seeking or asking for help and support is the first step to
finding treatment. Professional assistance is also available to
help guide you through the difficult process.
• Professional assistance can include therapy, medication,
mentoring and other alternative recovery options. Utilizing
professional expertise can help build the emotional skills for
future prevention.
• It’s important to remember that medication is meant to
relieve symptoms of depression but is not considered a cure.
Learning antidepressant facts can help protect you against
some of the risks of using medication.

8. • The damaging physical effects of depression
are gradual and therefore may not be present
immediately, but if prolonged can be dangerous
and difficult to identify.
• If a past trauma was the cause of depression
for a person, they may experience a sudden
response to images, sounds or situations related
to the memory of that past trauma.
• Survivors of traumatic experiences all
undergo a grieving process. Asking others for
help may be challenging, but it can make a huge
difference on the road to recovery.

9. • Depression can find its way into many aspects of
our lives. For the person suffering from depression,
this can cause damaging effects to our social
relationships.
• Traumatic experiences can cause a feeling of
untrustworthiness or a sense of constant danger.
Sometimes it takes a while to recover from a trauma,
though professional treatment can help guide and
speed up your recovery.
• Our social relationships are invaluable to
preventing and treating depression. A feeling of
disconnection may occur, which causes the severe
feelings of guilt, doubt and eventually hopelessness.

10. • At Edson Legal, we are proud to help you and your family obtain the rehabilitation
and treatment you need, at the quality of service you deserve.
• No need for you or your loved ones to suffer unfair consequences of personal injury.
Our team of legal experts will work directly with you to ensure your rights are
protected throughout the process.
• The well-being and future of you and your family are our top priority, and for over 30
years, we have built a reputation of success among our clients. Contact us today at
www.edsonlegal.com for your free consultation.

11. Summary
• Edson Legal walks through the many causes, symptoms and solutions of depression. Identifying
depression and seeking professional help are the first steps to treatment. There’s no need to
suffer the unfair consequences of personal injury. At Edson Legal, we protect the rights of our
clients at the high quality level of service you deserve. Contact us today to learn more.