| * If you are severely depressed or are having
thoughts of suicide, see a doctor immediately.
Recognizing Depression as a Mental Illness.
Despite all the publicity, some people are still not aware depression
is an actual illness. This may be because we use the terms depressed
and sad interchangeably. It’s normal to feel sad or ‘depressed’ now
and again. But clinical depression is a medical condition, not
just a passing mood, and has many physical and emotional symptoms
that go along with it.
Sometimes it takes a while for a person to realize they are depressed.
The symptoms may creep up gradually and sometimes have to reach
a certain level before a person realizes something is wrong
and, hopefully, seek help. For some people, the stigma of depression
prevents them from seeking help. Some people with mild depression
don’t even realize they suffer from a medical condition.
Depression
is very common, affecting about 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men at
some point in their lifetimes.
Benefits of Early Treatment:
Treating depression early may prevent years of suffering.
Since the social consequences of depression (such as social isolation
and job loss) are also risk factors for depression, treating depression
early can prevent a vicious cycle of depression – isolation-
depression.
Dangers of Lack of Treatment:
Many people resign themselves to living with the symptoms of clinical
depression, which can adversely affect quality of life. People
with severe depression or long lasting depression may even commit
suicide - up to 15% of those with severe major
depression. Others will develop substance abuse problems, which
ends up worsening clinical depression.
Fear of Treatment:
Some clinically depressed people are reluctant
to seek treatment because they fear their doctors will put them
on medication. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding
the use of antidepressant medication recently. Do
antidepressants increase risk of suicidal behavior?
There are many ways to treat depression. While not every
depressed person is in need of medication, many depressed people
will not fare as well without it. Every person is different. The
severity of clinical depression also varies greatly.
What is Clinical Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder, but much more than mood is affected.
Depression manifests itself in many ways – emotionally,
mentally, and physically. Clinical depression is considered to
be a chronic or recurrent but treatable illness (though some people
have only one episode of major depression). The risk of a reoccurrence
gets higher with each episode of depression - some patients stay
on long-term maintenance treatment, which may include medication
or psychotherapy.
There are several types and subtypes of clinical depression – major
depression, dysthymia (mild, long-term depression), bipolar disorder
(also known as manic depression), atypical depression, SAD (seasonal
affective disorder), postpartum depression, adjustment disorder
with depression, and more.
Symptoms of Depression:
Diagnosing clinical depression is based upon a person's symptoms.
Not all people have all the symptoms. The severity of the symptoms
varies, ranging from minor suffering to downright disability. Common
symptoms, in addition to an abnormal mood (depressed mood and/or
loss of interest or enjoyment must be present for a diagnosis of
clinical depression to be made), are lack of energy, lack of motivation,
pessimism, changes in sleep & eating patterns. One may sleep or
eat too little or too much. There may be a significant change in
weight.
Not only sadness, but also feelings of emptiness, hopelessness,
boredom, frustration, irritability, and anger are common. Feeling
guilty (for no reason) is also common. Many depressed people
suffer from low self-esteem and may have a distorted self-image.
Depression also can affect one's cognitive ability, causing difficulty
in concentrating, memory, and making decisions. There may be unexplained
physical aches and pains, e.g. headaches, back pain, stomachaches, chest
pain. One depressed person may be lethargic, another on edge.
Most clinically depressed people suffer from some symptoms of
anxiety. About one-third of people who suffer from depression have
a full-blown
anxiety disorder.
Symptoms must be present for at least two weeks before a diagnosis
of depression is considered. Two weeks! - Yet many people suffer
for years before seeking treatment and others never seek medical
help.
Are There Outward Signs that a person is Clinically Depressed?
Usually, but not always. For
more info on outward signs of depression, click here.
Social Consequences:
Work and relationships can suffer. With severe major depression
one may not have the energy to get out of bed, never mind work.
With minor depression, low energy and lack of motivation may affect
performance at work. The low-self esteem that often accompanies
depression may lead people with depression to believe they are less
capable than they actually are and not live up to their full potential.
The depressed person may worry that other people will know that
there is something wrong with them. People who are depressed may
feel embarrassed or feel like a burden to others and they may
isolate themselves as a result.
They may also be too fatigued to go out with friends, or may feel
it's not worth the effort since they are
not going to enjoy themselves anyway. Withdrawing from friends
and family will cause more depression and so a vicious cycle begins.
Causes of Depression:
Clinical Depression is most likely caused by a combination of
many factors: Genetic susceptibility, stress, and low levels of
certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin. Some medications and
other medical conditions also cause depression.
Stress is a major trigger of depression, particularly in those
predisposed to it. Divorce, a death of a loved one, or even a ‘personal
crisis’ can cause extreme stress. (Normal bereavement is not
clinical depression but major depression may co-exist with it) People
suffering from chronic illness are at an increased risk of developing
depression for both physical and psychological reasons.
However, depression can occur without any apparent reason at all.
Hereditary tendencies play a major role, however, even people with
no family history of depression may become depressed.
Treatments for Depression:
Antidepressant medication is often prescribed. Psychotherapy is
considered just as effective as antidepressant medication and a
combination of the two is usually the most effective. There are
different forms of psychotherapy. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps
break negative, distorted patterns of thinking.
Family problems or any relationship problems will exacerbate (or
may trigger) depression. And depression itself can intensify or
cause difficulties in relationships. Seeing a counselor or psychologist,
family therapist, psychiatrist, etc. can help one learn to deal
with relationship / family problems. An initial consultation with
a therapist will help determine if he or she is compatible with
the patient and allow the counselor to explain what to expect from
therapy and answer any questions the patient has.
Regular aerobic exercise may be as effective as antidepressant
medication but it may be too difficult for a person who is suffering
severe depression to start exercising until they have had as least
partial relief from their depression. There are many complementary
treatments such as relaxation techniques to combat stress, supplements,
massage therapy, etc. Motivating oneself with achievable goals
can also be very effective.
A depressed person needs all the help they can get. A multidimensional
approach may be necessary to banish depression.
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