Anxiety Depression
Depression is a very common health condition. It is not something that you can just overcome easily; in fact, it is a medical illness that has effects on your mind and body. It affects your thinking and behavior. It can cause you to have both emotional and physical problems. Many professionals in the health industry now believe that depression is a chronic illness that needs long-term treatment, just like other chronic diseases such as high blood pressure or diabetes. Some people may experience one episode of depression, but others have repeated episodes and battle depression for their entire lifetime. Diagnosis and treatment can offer hope for sufferers of depression. As a result of effective treatment, most people who have depression feel better within a few weeks and are able to go back to regular activities that they once enjoyed.
There are a number of symptoms of depression to be aware of. These symptoms do vary among people suffering with depression. They may consist of the following:
- Feeling of sadness
- Loss of interest in regular daily activities
- Crying spells
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Difficulty sleeping
- Trouble making decisions
- Feeling that everything is hopeless
- Weight gain or loss
- Feeling restless
- Irritability
- Feeling weak or fatigued
- Being easily annoyed
- Feeling worthless
- Lack of interest in sex
- Back pain
- Headaches
- Thoughts of suicide
Causes
We do not know exactly what causes depression. Doctors believe that it may be due to a variety of biochemical, environmental, and genetic factors.
Biochemical: There is some evidence from studies that people with depression have physical changes that occur in their brains. The significance of these changes is unknown. Neurotransmitters, which are naturally occurring brain chemicals linked to mood may play a role in depression. Hormonal imbalances may also play a role.
Genes: Some studies conducted show that depression is more common with people who have had family members with depression. Researchers are trying to determine if there are genes that are involved with causing depression.
Environment: The environment may also be a cause in some way. Some examples of environmental causes may include financial problems, high stress, or the loss of a loved one.
It is believed that approximately 12 million adults have depression in the United States. Depression is not based on racial, ethnic, or economic differences. It can affect anyone anytime. It most commonly begins in the late 20s, but it can occur at any age, from young kids to senior citizens. Women are also more likely to be diagnosed with depression, but this also may be the result of more women seeking treatment. The exact cause of depression is unknown; however, researchers have identified a few factors that may increase a person’s risk of developing depression. These factors may include:
- Having family members who have been diagnosed with depression
- Having a family member who has committed suicide
- Being depressed as a child
- Stressful personal life events
- Illness or chronic disease
- Long term use of specific medications
- Having low self-esteem, self-critical, pessimistic, or being overly dependent
- Being in a lower socioeconomic group
- Abusing drugs, alcohol, or nicotine
Keep in mind that most people feel sad from time to time, but depression is a feeling that lasts for weeks, months, or even years. These feelings are so powerful that they can interfere with personal relationships, career, and family. People suffering from depression ma
y have difficulty completing daily activities.
Serious depression can lead to thoughts of suicide. If you are having these thoughts, you need to get help. Contact a family member or friend, call a doctor or mental health provider, contact a person in your faith community, go to the emergency room, or call 911. This is an emergency situation.
If you have the symptoms of depression, you need to seek help. Depression does not usually resolve itself on its own; you will need to get help, and if it is untreated, it will generally get worse. If you have a family member or loved one who you think may be depressed, talk to them. You can also help the loved one find a doctor or mental health provider to make an appointment. You can offer to take them to the doctor yourself. Many times when a person is depressed, they just want to be left alone. They will not seek help on their own. Be pushy if you need to, but get your loved one the help that is needed.
Diagnosis of Depression
When a doctor thinks that a person may have depression, they typically will go through a variety of tests. These include both medical as well as psychological tests. The doctor may begin with a physical exam. A physical exam may include measuring height, weight, vital signs, and a check of major organs. Laboratory tests may also be included, such as a complete blood count screening for drugs and alcohol and a check of thyroid function. A psychological evaluation is also important, and your doctor will speak to you about how you are feeling, what you are thinking, and your behavior patterns. Your doctor will likely ask you about your symptoms, and this will include when the symptoms began, how frequent they are, how severe they are, and how they impact your daily life.
To be diagnosed with major depression, you have to meet the symptoms described in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The criteria includes:
- A mood of depression
- Symptoms that occur almost every day for at least two weeks
- Lack of interest or enjoyment in most activities
- Unintentional weight loss or gain
- Sleeping issues, such as too much sleep, too little sleep, or waking episodes while attempting to sleep
- Feelings of agitation or restlessness
- Sluggish feelings
- Lack of energy or tiredness
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Problems concentrating, making decisions, or thinking
- Thinking of death or of suicide
- Difficulty functioning in daily life
Depression is a severe illness and it can cause a lot of problems for the individual suffering from depression as well as the family of the individual. If depression is left untreated, it can lead to disability, dependency, and finally suicide. It also can result in serious emotional, behavioral, health, legal, and financial problems. Complications of suicide can include:
- Abuse of alcohol
- Abuse of drugs
- Suicide
- Anxiety
- Heart disease
- Family troubles
- Problems in school or at work
- Difficulty maintaining relationships
- Isolation from social situations or relationships
Treatment
There are many treatments for depression that are available. The most common of these treatments include psychotherapy, medications, and electroconvulsive therapy. In many cases, your depression can be treated by your primary care doctor. In some cases, however, you may actually benefit from treatment with a mental health provider, such as a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a social worker.
Medications: There are many different medications that can be used to treat depression. Often people find that the best relief of depression symptoms come from combining medications as well as psychotherapy. There are several types of antidepressants that may be prescribed to you. Make sure you learn the specifics about the antidepressant that is prescribed to you. Some will have side effects. Antidepressants also may take a while to work; in fact, it may take up to 12 weeks before you see the full benefits of the antidepressant.
Psychotherapy: Psychotherapy is also called therapy, talk therapy, counseling, or psychosocial therapy. This type of therapy is often used along with medication treatment. Psychotherapy involves treating depression by talking about the surrounding issues with a mental health provider. By talking with a mental health provider, you may be able to learn the causes of depression so that you have a better understanding of it. You also will be able to learn how to identify and then make changes in your unhealthy thoughts or behavior, find ways to solve problems, and make realistic goals. Psychotherapy allows you to become happy again and feel that you are in control.
Electroconvulsive Therapy: With electroconvulsive therapy, electrical currents are sent through the brain in order to cause a seizure. If may offer a fast and effective relief of your symptoms of depression, but doctors are unsure why. The biggest side effect may be partial memory loss, and some people experience confusion, which may last from a few minutes to several hours.
Preventing Depression
Although depression cannot be prevented, there are steps you can take to control your stress, increase your resilience when it comes to triggers, and boost your self-esteem. Having friends and the support of your family is important. It is important that you seek treatment as early as possible to prevent further problems. You cannot usually treat depression on your own and expect it to improve. There are some things you can do for yourself that will help you in your treatment plan. Here are some ideas to help you.
- Take all medications prescribed to you as directed. If you stop taking your depression medication, you may have your symptoms back or even experience withdrawal-like symptoms.
- Continue with therapy. If you have been receiving therapy and it has been successful, continue.
- Educate yourself. Learn about depression so you can help yourself.
- Look for warning signs of symptoms. Take notes about possible triggers of your symptoms of depression. Contact your health care provider and tell them about your observations.
- Exercise. Staying physically fit and exercising regularly has been shown to reduce the symptoms of depression. Jogging, walking, swimming, and gardening are possible forms of exercise. Exercise is said to help you build confidence. It also provides you with a distraction from depression or anxiety. Exercise also helps you meet and socialize with others. Finally, it provides you with healthy coping skills.
- Do not drink alcohol or do drugs. These can make your depression worse.
Living with depression is challenging. It may help you to cut back on your obligations and responsibilities if possible. Reducing your obligations may cut down on your stress. Some people find that writing in a journal helps them to release their feelings in a positive way. Reading books about depression or self-help books may help you too. Try to maintain social relationships and get together with friends and family. Make sure you eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep. Joining a support group is something that some people have found to be successful. Some people enjoy relaxation and stress management activities, such as yoga, tai chi, or meditation. Staying organized or making lists helps keep some people from becoming overwhelmed.
