Depression (which is a major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that shall negatively affect how one might feel, the way one thinks, and how might act on it. Fortunately, it is also well treatable. Depression-like conditions might lead to some feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities that were enjoyed once. It can also lead to a variety of emotional and physical issues and it can enhance the ability for functioning at work and home.
Depression symptoms can well vary from mild to severe and can include:
- Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were first enjoyed
- Alterations in appetite like weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
- Trouble in sleeping or sleeping much
- Loss of energy or enhanced fatigue-like condition
- Enhanced in purposeless physical activity (which shall be about inability to sit still, pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these particular actions might be severe enough for being observable by others)
- Feeling worthless or well guilty
- Difficulty in thinking, concentrating, or making some of the decisions well
- Thoughts of death or performing suicide
Depression-like conditions shall affect an estimated one in 15 adults (6.7%) in any given year. And one in six people (16.6%) shall all experience depression at some time in their life. The depression-like condition can occur at any time, but on average, first, it might appear well during the late teens to mid-20s. Women are more likely than men for experiencing depression.
Depression Is Different from Sadness or Grief/Bereavement
The death of a loved one, loss of a job, or the ending of a relationship which is well difficult experiences for a person to endure well. It is normal for some feelings of sadness or grief to develop in response to several situations. Those experiencing might have loss usually that shall describe themselves as being “depressed.”
But being sad is just not the same as being depressed. The grieving process is just so natural and unique for each individual and it shall share some of the similar features of depression. Both grief and depression shall involve some intense sadness and withdrawal from usual activities.
They are also different in important ways that are mentioned below
- Painful feelings might all come in waves, which shall also be intermixed with positive memories of the deceased. In major depression, mood and/or interest (pleasure) are decreased for most of two weeks
- Self-esteem is usually well maintained. In major depression-like conditions, the feelings of worthlessness and self-loathing are just so common
- Thoughts of death might have surfaced of thinking about being or fantasizing about “joining” the lowered loved one. In major depression-like conditions, thoughts are focused on ending one’s life due to feeling worthless or undeserving of living or being unable to cope with the pain of depression
Depression-like issue or Grief can co-exist. For some people, the death of a loved one, losing a job or being a victim of a physical assault, or some major disaster can all lead to conditions like depression. When grief and depression might co-occur, the grief is just so severe and lasts longer than grief without conditions like depression.
How Is Depression Treated?
Depression-like condition is among the most treatable mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% of people with conditions like depression eventually respond well to senseful treatment. Almost all patients might gain well relief from their symptoms.
Before a diagnosis or treatment, which is a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, which includes an interview and a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done well in making sure the depression is not due to a medical condition including a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency (which shall be reversing the medical cause by alleviating the depression-like symptoms).
The evaluation shall all identify specific symptoms and it might all explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors to arrive at a diagnosis and plan a course of action.
Medication
Antidepressants like medications might produce some improvement within the first week or two of use yet full benefits might not be seen for two to three months. If a patient feels might be little or no improvement after various weeks, his or her psychiatrist can further alter the dose of the medication or add or substitute another antidepressant.
In some situations, other psychotropic medications might be quite well helpful. It is all-important for allowing the doctor to know if a medication does not work or in case you might experience side effects.
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy might all involve only the individual, but it can include some other things. For example, family or couples therapy can help in addressing the issues within these close relationships. Group therapy shall all bring people with similar illnesses together in a supportive environment, and it can also assist the participant in learning how others cope in similar situations.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is a medical solution that is most commonly reserved for patients with conditions like severe major depression who might not respond to some other treatments. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is well under conditions like anesthesia. A patient might typically receive ECT two to three times a week for about six to 12 treatments.
Self-help and Coping
There are various things people can do for helping to lower the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise shall all help to create a positive feeling and it shall also help in enhancing mood. Getting enough quality sleep regularly is about eating a healthy diet and avoiding the consumption of alcohol (which is a depressant) that can also lower symptoms of depression.
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder
Disruptive mood dysregulation disorder is known to be a condition, which shall occur in children and youth ages 6 to 18. It might also involve chronic and severe irritability which shall result in severe and frequent temper outbursts.
The temper outbursts can be well verbal or they can also involve behavior like physical aggression toward people or property. These outbursts might be well significantly out of proportion to the situation and are not consistent with the child’s developmental age.