This loss of interest usually causes sleeping and eating patterns to suffer. Brief periods of depression are normal

Women are twice as likely as men to get depressed.

Some research says the higher incidence of depression in women is due to particular stresses that many women face such as major responsibilities at home and work, single parenthood, and caring for children and aging parents. How these factors may uniquely affect women is not yet fully understood. All people experience stress. In women, hormones may effect how they handle the stress, just as in males, hormones may increase the risk of heart attack in the face of stress.

Put them off until your depression lifts.

Seek help if you experience any of these problems for more than two weeks.

Ask what is wrong if someone seems depressed. Be a sounding board; it may help the person determine what triggered the depression.

Instead of trying to solve the person’s problems, engage in active listening. Acknowledge what the person is saying without being judgmental. Encourage the person to talk about experiences that he or she enjoys. Let the person know that he or she is important to you.

L-tyrosine, an amino acid that converts to norepinephrine in the body, is also helpful, according to Priscilla Slagle, M.D., a psychiatrist in Palm Springs, Calif.

U.S. companies lose an estimated $30 to $44 billion dollars each year because of depression among their employees, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. People suffering from severe depression take more time off from work than those who suffer from hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.