The following are few symptoms which people with depression may experience –
- Persistent sad, anxious, or empty mood
- Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
- Decreased energy, fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering
- Insomnia, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
- Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
Types
of Depression
A
person who suffers from a Major Depressive episode must either have a depressed
mood or a loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities consistently for at
least a 2 week period. This mood must represent a change from the person’s
normal mood; social, occupational, educational or other important functioning
must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood.
Persistent
Depressive Disorder, formerly known as Dysthymic Disorder (also known as
dysthymia) is a depressed mood that
occurs for most of the day, for more days than not, for at least 2 years. Major
depression may precede persistent depressive disorder, and major depressive
episodes may occur during persistent depressive disorder. In order to meet the
diagnostic criteria the symptoms must also cause significant distress or
impairment in social, occupational, educational or other important areas of
functioning.
Another
type of depression is experienced as a part of bipolar disorder, also called
manic-depressive illness. These mood disorders include mood swings that range
from highs to lows. It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between bipolar
disorder and depression.
When in the depressed cycle, an individual can have
any or all of the symptoms of a depressive disorder. When in the manic cycle,
the individual may be overactive, over talkative, and have a great deal of
energy. Mania often affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior in ways
that cause serious problems and embarrassment.
Depression
Treatment
The
Physicians practicing today believe that depression is caused by an equal
combination of biological (including genetics), social, and psychological
factors. A treatment approach that focuses exclusively on one of these factors
is not likely to be as beneficial as a treatment approach that addresses both
psychological and biological aspects.
You may have to try 2 or 3 different
medications before finding the one that works for you. The same may also be
true for psychotherapy — the first therapist may not be the one you end up
working with. Most modern psychotherapy treatment for depression takes 6 to 12
months, going once per week for 50 minutes at a time.
There
are different types of effective therapeutic approaches utilized for the
treatment of depression today. These range from cognitive behavioral therapy
(which emphasizes on discussing thoughts and the behaviors associated with
depression), to interpersonal therapy (here the focus is on an individual’s
social relationships, and specifically on how to improve them), to rational
emotive therapy, to family and psycho-dynamic approaches. Both individual and
group modes are commonly used, depending upon the severity of the depressive
episode.
Medications
Many
types of antidepressant medications are available, including those below.
Discuss possible major side effects with your doctor or pharmacist.
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Doctors often start by prescribing an SSRI. These medications are safer and generally cause fewer side effects than other types of antidepressants.
- Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs).
- Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs). It's one of the few antidepressants not frequently associated with sexual side effects. Atypical antidepressants. These medications don't fit into any other antidepressant categories. They are sedating and usually taken in the evening.
- Tricyclic antidepressants. These antidepressants can be very effective, but tend to cause more-severe side effects than newer antidepressants. So tricyclics generally aren't prescribed unless you've tried an SSRI first without improvement.
- Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). MAOIs may be prescribed, typically when other medications haven't worked, because they can have serious side effects. Using MAOIs requires a strict diet because of dangerous (or even deadly) interactions with foods ― such as certain cheeses, pickles and wines and some medications including birth control pills, decongestants and certain herbal supplements.
Other
treatment options
For
some people, other procedures may be suggested:
- Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). In ECT, electrical currents are passed through the brain. Performed under anesthesia, this procedure is thought to impact the function and effect of neurotransmitters in your brain and typically offers immediate relief of even severe depression when other treatments don't work. Physical side effects, such as headache, are tolerable. Some people also have memory loss, which is usually temporary. ECT is usually used for people who don't get better with medications, can't take antidepressants for health reasons or are at high risk of suicide.
- Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). TMS may be an option for those who haven't responded to antidepressants. During TMS, you sit in a reclining chair, awake, with a treatment coil placed against your scalp. The coil sends brief magnetic pulses to stimulate nerve cells in your brain that are involved in mood regulation and depression. Typically, you'll have five treatments each week for up to six weeks.
Mind-body
connections
Complementary
and alternative medicine practitioners believe the mind and body must be in
harmony for you to stay healthy.
Examples of mind-body techniques that may be helpful
for depression include:
- Acupuncture
- Relaxation techniques such as yoga or tai chi
- Meditation
- Guided imagery
- Massage therapy
- Music or art therapy
- Spirituality
- Aerobic exercise
Relying
solely on these therapies is generally not enough to treat depression. They may
be helpful when used in addition to medication and psychotherapy.
- There's no sure way to prevent depression. However, these strategies may help.
- Take steps to control stress, to increase your resilience and boost your self-esteem.
- Reach out to family and friends, especially in times of crisis, to help you weather rough spells.
- Get treatment at the earliest sign of a problem to help prevent depression from worsening.
- Consider getting long-term maintenance treatment to help prevent a relapse of symptoms.
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