Depression

One in six people (16.6%) will experience depression at some time in their life. Depression can occur at any time, but on average, first appears during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men to experience depression. Some studies show that one-third of women will experience a major depressive episode in their lifetime. Recent rise of depression among children is raising alarm for mental health professional.

What causes depression

Nobody is immune from depression. It can affect anyone even the most ideal person. Common cause of depression:

Genetics: Depression can run in families.
Brain neuro chemical changes.
Brain neuro chemical changes.
Environmental factors. Stressful environment is more likely to lead to depression. certain stress like loss of spouse, divorce, job loss, death of loved once etc. are more likely to lead to depression. Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or Major life events such as moving, graduating or retiring, etc. Being socially isolated or excluded from family, friends, or other social groups.
Serious illness. Like cancer or chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, predisposes for depression.

Types of depression:

What are the signs and symptoms of depression?

Most common presentation of depression is by body ache fatigue, insomnia, headache, irritability, cheat pain and unexplained bodily symptoms.

Sadness is only one small part of depression and some people with depression may not feel sadness at all. Different people have different symptoms. Some symptoms of depression include:

Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
Appetite and/or weight changes
Restlessness or Irritability
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment

How Is Depression Treated?

Medication and psychological treatment form mainstay of treatment. Type of treatment depends on severity, types of symptoms, subjective distress, & personal choice of patient. both modalities work well but decision of seeking type of treatment should be taken after consultation with mental health professional. Patient with suicidal thought and history of attempt should seek both treatment. sometimes severe depression patient needs admission in psychiatric setup.

Medication:

Separate class of medicine called antidepressant are commonly used to treat depression. They alter chemicals in brain and bring about improvement in patients. We have different classes of antidepressant which are chosen depending upon the type, severity of symptoms, side effect profile etc. most class of antidepressant are equally effective in alleviating symptoms of depression.

Psychotherapy:

Different type of therapies are available for treating depression. Few are CBT, REBT, Interpersonal therapy etc. of late first two are most often used.

Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that has been most commonly reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments

How can I help one who is depressed?

If you know someone who has depression, first help him or her see mental health professional. You can also:

Mental Peace. We Take Care of What Matters You Most!

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.