Is it a case of the winter blues or am I just depressed? Many of us may have looked in the mirror at some point in time and asked ourselves this particular question. Is that overwhelming feeling of sadness common? Yes. But is it fixable? Yes.

Well-known artist Vincent Van Gogh once said, “The sadness will last forever.” Fanatics of Van Gogh’s artwork suspected his paintings were an outpouring of his emotions of sadness and grief, based on the colors and themes of his masterpieces. One thing this artist and his fans weren’t aware of, however, was that those feelings of gloom could have been a form of depression, which is now treatable and NOT a condition someone will have to live with FOREVER.

So what is depression? According to Pfizer (the makers of the antidepressant Pristiq), depression is a medical condition that has affected an estimated 38 million adults in the U.S. This disorder is believed to be associated with changes in the chemical levels of the brain.

Depression can impact both men and women of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and economic levels. Patients are frequently diagnosed with depression by healthcare professionals when he or she reports at least two weeks of sad or “empty” feelings or loss of interest in daily activities.

Researchers are now finding there are a multitude of causes for depression. Three of those factors in particular are becoming more and more common among patients: Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, and low testosterone.

Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) is commonly found in several of the foods we should eat regularly (like fish and eggs). It is also synthesized in the skin from exposure to the sun. What doctors are finding, though, is that patients who reside in regions with little sunlight or who have a poor diet are prone to Vitamin D deficiency, which can lead to poor bone health, a weakened immune system, some types of cancer, and depression. Medical practitioners and prescribers are often recommending nutritional supplements and Vitamin D shots to prevent these daunting medical conditions.

Additionally, obesity is another big contributor to depression. Many people who eat during times of stress, emotional unrest, or who simply have bad eating habits end up becoming overweight or even morbidly obese. Because of their weight gain, these patients often develop medical problems like hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Conditions like these eventually cause a number of other complications for the patient, including feelings of depression.

Hormonal deficiencies such as low testosterone are becoming more widely recognized among both men and women 35 and older. Low testosterone levels can cause men and women to feel fatigued with decreased energy, low libido, and feelings of anxiety as well as depression.

The silver lining to all of this is that doctors and medical professionals continue to learn more about the contributing factors to depression and now have ways to prevent and treat this plaguing disorder. Local medical practices such as InShapeMD are providing patients with programs to combat a variety of health concerns, such as Vitamin D supplementation, practitioner-guided weight loss, and bio-identical testosterone therapy.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing symptoms of depression associated with Vitamin D deficiency, obesity, or hormone imbalance, it may be time to look into an appropriate treatment plan to help you feel well again. After all, unlike what Van Gogh thought, the sadness does not have to last forever.

For more information on the programs available at InShapeMD visit: inshapemd.com .