Sadness, feeling down, hopeless and having a loss of interest in daily activities are familiar feelings for all of us, but if it lasted more than two weeks the issue may be depression.
Depression is the main cause of disability worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It can affect people of all ages. In this article, learn what depression is and what symptoms it. We also describe the causes, treatments and more.
Definition of Depression
Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious mental illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, how you behave with close people and how you do deal with daily activities such as sleeping, eating or working.
Depression is an ongoing problem, not a passing one. It consists of episodes during which the symptoms for several weeks, months or even years.
Depression Symptoms
Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include as follows:
• Persistent sad, anxious or “empty” mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• A loss of sexual desire
• Changes in appetite
• Weight loss or gain without diet
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Agitation, restlessness and pacing up and down
• Increase in purposeless physical activity
• Slowed movement and speech
• Fatigue or loss of energy
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems
without a clear physical cause.
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Recurrent thoughts of death, suicide or an attempt at
suicide.
Not everyone who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some people experience only a few symptoms while others may experience many. Several symptoms in addition to low mood are required for a diagnosis of major depression.
Kazmo Brain Center offers a screening tool that measures the degree of depression, scores indicate the severity of depression among people who had already been diagnosed. If you are within the age 6-17 take the depression test here. If you are over the age of 18, this test is suitable for you.
Depression for Men and Women
Depression is nearly twice as common among women as men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some studies show that one of three women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime.
Irritability, anxiety, mood swings, fatigue and ruminating (dwelling on negative thoughts) all of these symptoms of depression that tend to appear more often in women.
As for men, around 9% of men in the United States have experienced feelings of depression or anxiety, according to the American Psychological Association.
Symptoms of depression in men might also appear by drinking alcohol, anger at the slightest reason, working without interruption, avoiding the family and not assuming its responsibility.
Depression for Children
In children, symptoms of depression may prevent them from doing homework and participating in activities.
Symptoms of depression in children might appear by crying, low energy, clinginess, defiant behavior and vocal outbursts.
Younger children may have difficulty expressing how they feel in words. This can make it harder for them to explain their feelings of sadness.
Therefore, Kazmo Brain Center recommended play therapy for kids at this age.
Read more about Play Therapy.
Causes of Depression
We don’t know exactly what causes depression. There are many possible causes, and sometimes, various factors combine to trigger symptoms. Factors that are likely to play a role include:
Life events
Research suggests that continuing difficulties – long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness, prolonged work stress all of that, can lead to depression.
Personal factors
-Family history
Depression can run in families and some people will be at an increased genetic risk. However, having a parent or close relative with depression doesn’t mean you’ll automatically have the same experience. Life circumstances and other personal factors are still likely to have an important influence.
-Personality
Some people may be more at risk of depression because of their personality, particularly if they tend to worry a lot, have low self-esteem, are perfectionists, are sensitive to personal criticism, or are self-critical and negative.
Serious medical illness
The stress and worry of coping with a serious illness can lead to depression, especially if you’re dealing with long-term management and/or chronic pain.
Abuse and alcohol use
Abuse and alcohol use both leads to and result from depression. Many people with depression also have drug and alcohol problems.
Changes in the brain
Although there’s been a lot of research in this complex area, there’s still much we don’t know. Depression is not simply the result of a ‘chemical imbalance’, for example, because you have too much or not enough of a particular brain chemical. It’s complicated, and there are multiple causes of major depression. Factors such as genetic vulnerability, severe life stressors, substances you may take (some medications, drugs, and alcohol) and medical conditions can affect the way your brain regulates your moods.
Treatment of Depression
Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders.
Between 80 percent and 90 percent of people with depression eventually, respond well to treatment.
The earlier that treatment can begin, the more effective. Depression is usually treated with medications, psychotherapy or a combination of the two. If these treatments do not reduce symptoms, electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and other brain stimulation therapies may be options to explore.
Medications
Antidepressants are medicines that treat depression. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress.
A person should only take these medications as their doctor prescribes. Some drugs can take a while to have an impact. Some people stop taking medication after symptoms improve, but this can lead to a relapse.
Raise any concerns about antidepressants with a doctor, including any intention to stop taking the medication.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy, or “talk therapy,” is mostly used alone for treatment of mild depression; for moderate to severe depression, psychotherapy is often used along with antidepressant medications. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is effective in treating depression.
More information on Cognitive-behavioral therapy is available on the Kazmo Brain Center webpage.
Depending on the severity of the depression, treatment can take a few weeks or much longer. In many cases, significant improvement can be made in 10 to 15 sessions.
Electroconvulsive therapy
(ECT) is a medical treatment most commonly used for patients with severe major depression or bipolar disorder who have not responded to other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia. A patient typically receives ECT two to three times a week for a total of six to 12 treatments. ECT has been used since the 1940s, and many years of research have led to major improvements. It is usually managed by a team of trained medical professionals including a psychiatrist, an anesthesiologist, and a nurse or physician assistant.
Self-Help and Coping
Here are other tips that may help you during treatment for depression:
- Try to be active and exercise.
- Set realistic goals for yourself.
- Try to spend time with other people and confide in a trusted friend or relative.
- Try not to isolate yourself and let others help you.
- Expect your mood to improve gradually, not immediately.
- Postpone important decisions, such as getting married or divorced or changing jobs until you feel better.
- Eating a healthy diet
- Continue to educate yourself about depression.
Remember …
Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of it, the first step is to visit Kazmo Brain Center. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation. This is a start to addressing mental health needs.
Kazmo Brain Center is a counseling center in Frisco, Texas specializing in mental health and will work with you toward a happier and more satisfying position.
If you or your loved ones are facing depression and you think that you need help, Request an appointment at the Kazmo Brain Center and we are here to help.
Resourse:medicalnewstoday.com
