Many conditions, lifestyle choices, medicines, and diseases interfere with your ability to cope with everyday stress. You may be at risk for a more serious problem from your symptoms if you have any of the following. Be sure to tell your health professional.

Conditions

• Age older than 60
• A history of depression or other mental health problem, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder
• A history of suicide attempt
• A family history of depression, suicide, or serious mental illness

Lifestyle choices

• Access to firearms
• Alcohol abuse or withdrawal
• Drug abuse or withdrawal

Medicines

• Barbiturates, such as phenobarbital, pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)
• Benzodiazepines, such as Valium, Xanax, or Ativan
• Chemotherapy or radiation therapy
• Corticosteroids, such as prednisone
• Hormonal medicines, such as birth control pills (oral contraceptives) or hormone therapy used to treat the symptoms of menopause
• Medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection

Diseases

• Anemia
• Anxiety disorders
• Cancer
• Chronic kidney disease
• Chronic pain
• Diabetes
• Epilepsy
• Heart disease, including prior diagnosis of irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia)
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
• Huntington's disease
• Hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism
• Liver disease, such as cirrhosis
• Lung disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, or asthma
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson's disease
• Stroke