Mental health - Depression

What is depression?

Depression is classified as a mood disorder. It may be described as feelings of sadness, loss, or anger that interfere with a person’s everyday activities.

Depression is a common mental disorder. Globally, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression.

In the 15-30 age group suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death.

Every year more than 800,000 people commit suicide.

To heal a would we need to accept there is one. If we see a wound on the leg we apply medicine to heal it. But in Mental depression, we don't see that we are injured.

Myth about Depression

1) There is a difference between sadness and depression.

Sadness: It's just adjustment disorder, something happens from which you are unhappy.

Depression: It doesn't mean unhappiness, many healthy, wealthy people suffer this. This is a feeling of loss of all energy, mood, and happiness and this feeling lasts for a long time.

2) Depression is in your head.

Many people think, depression is a sign of weakness but this is a lie. Depression is an illness like other diseases. It can have many different causes, and one of the reasons is a chemical imbalance. 

> Less of chemical Serotonin, norepinephrine & dopamine abnormalities can cause depression.

3) Successful people do not face depression.

Robin William, Chester Bennington are examples, after having a successful life they were facing depression.

Name, Fame, Money, Success, and Everything are still depressed. Material wealth does not make you immune from mental illness.

Problems

People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lower productivity. It can also affect relationships and some chronic health conditions.

 Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:

•  Arthritis
•  Asthma
•  Cardiovascular disease
•  Cancer
•  Diabetes
•  Obesity

It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or hopeless regularly, you could be dealing with depression.

Depression is considered a serious medical condition that can get worse without proper treatment. Those who seek treatment often see improvements in symptoms in just a few weeks.

Depression Symptoms

> Some affect your mood, and others affect your body. 

> Moods up & down: anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness

> Feeling empty, sad, hopeless

> Mind upset: if something is going happy still feel sad.

> Loss of interest

> Guilty

> Lack of progression

> Physical weakness (excessive tiredness)

> Loss of concentration

> Appetite and weight changes

> Sleep abnormalities (such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night)

> Such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems

> Suicidal thoughts (negative thoughts)

Depression Causes

There are several possible causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial.

Common causes include:

> Family history. You’re at a risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.

> Childhood trauma. Some events affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations.

> Brain structure. There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of your brain is less active.

> Drug use. A history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.

> Stressful events. Such as the loss of a loved one, economic problems, or a divorce.

Depression Test

There isn’t a single test to diagnose depression. But your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a psychological evaluation.

In most cases, they’ll ask a series of questions about your:

• moods
• appetite
• sleep pattern
• activity level
• thoughts

Because depression can be linked to other health problems, your healthcare provider may also conduct a physical examination. Sometimes thyroid problems or a vitamin D deficiency can trigger symptoms of depression.

Don’t ignore the symptoms of depression. If your mood doesn’t improve or gets worse, seek medical help. Depression is a serious mental health illness with the potential for complications.

If left untreated, complications can include:

• weight gain or loss
• physical pain
• panic attacks
• relationship problems
• social isolation
• thoughts of suicide
• self-harm

Types of Depression

Depression can be broken into categories depending on the severity of symptoms. Some people experience mild and temporary, while others experience severe and ongoing depression.

There are two main types: major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder.

Major depressive disorder

A major depressive disorder is a more severe form of depression. It’s characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and worthlessness that don’t go away on their own.

To be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must experience 5 or more of the following symptoms over 2 weeks:

• feeling depressed most of the day
• loss of interest in most regular activities
• significant weight loss or gain
• sleeping a lot or not being able to sleep
• slowed thinking or movement
• fatigue or low energy most days
• feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• loss of concentration
• recurring thoughts of death or suicide

Persistent depressive disorder

Persistent depressive disorder (PDD) used to be called dysthymia. It’s a milder, but chronic, form of depression.

For the diagnosis to be made, symptoms must last for at least 2 years. PDD can affect your life more than major depression because it lasts for a longer period.

It’s common for people with PDD to:

• lose interest in normal daily activities
• feel hopeless
• lack of productivity
• have low self-esteem

Depression can be treated successfully, but it’s important to stick to your plan.

Treatment for Depression

Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible options.

It’s common to combine medical treatments and lifestyle therapies, including the following:

Medications

• Your healthcare provider may prescribe: antidepressants, anti-anxiety, anti-psychotic medications
• Each type of medication that’s used to treat depression has benefits and potential risks.

Psychotherapy

• Speaking with a therapist can help you learn skills to cope with negative feelings. You may also benefit from family or group therapy sessions.

Light therapy

• Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate your mood and improve symptoms of depression. Light therapy is commonly used in seasonal affective disorder, which is now called major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern.

Alternative therapies

• Ask your healthcare provider about acupuncture or meditation. 
• Talk with your healthcare provider before taking a supplement or combining a supplement with prescription medication because some supplements can react with certain medications. Some supplements may also worsen depression or reduce the effectiveness of the medication.

Exercise

• Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 5 days a week. Exercise can increase your body’s production of endorphins, which are hormones that improve your mood.

Avoid alcohol and drugs

• Drinking or misusing drugs may make you feel better for a little bit. But in the long run, these substances can make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.

Take care of yourself

• You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities.

Sometimes depression doesn’t respond to medication. Your healthcare provider may recommend other treatment options if your symptoms don’t improve.

> These include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to treat depression and improve your mood.

Supplements

• Several types of supplements are thought to have some positive effects on depression symptoms.
• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t approve many of the dietary supplements on the market in the United States, so you want to make sure you’re buying products from a trustworthy brand.

Talk to your healthcare provider before adding supplements to your treatment plan.

Vitamins

Vitamins are important to many bodily functions. Research suggests two vitamins are especially useful for easing symptoms of depression:

Vitamin B: B-12 and B-6 are vital to brain health. When your vitamin B levels are low, your risk for developing depression may be higher.

Vitamin D: Sometimes called the sunshine vitamin because exposure to the sun supplies it to your body, Vitamin D is important for brain, heart, and bone health. People who are depressed are more likely to have low levels of this vitamin.

Meditation

• Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique – such as mindfulness or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity to train attention and awareness and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm, and stable state.

Preventing Depression

Depression isn’t generally considered to be preventable. It’s hard to recognize what causes it, which means preventing it is more difficult.

But once you’ve experienced a depressive episode, you may be better prepared to prevent a future episode by learning which lifestyle changes and treatments are helpful.

Techniques that may help include:

• regular exercise
• regular meditation
• getting plenty of sleep
• maintaining treatments
• reducing stress
• building strong relationships with others

Advice: If any of your friends or relatives face depression and visit the therapist then please, don't judge them and support them.