Depression is a mental health disorder that can impact your life in many ways. It can lead to feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, and fatigue.
Fortunately, there are treatments to help you recover from depression. These can include education, lifestyle changes, social support, and psychological therapy.
Symptoms
Depression is a chronic condition that affects your emotions and thoughts, and can cause physical problems as well. If you or someone you know is feeling depressed for at least two weeks, it's time to get help.
Depression symptoms include feelings of hopelessness, sadness and loss of interest in everyday activities. They can also include changes in appetite, sleep patterns, energy level and self-esteem.
Some people also experience thoughts of death and suicide. These thoughts can be very distressing, and can lead to a variety of other problems, such as drug or alcohol use, and risk-taking behaviours.
Depression can occur at any age, and can be triggered by many different things. Some people may have a history of depression in their family, and others are at higher risk because they live in difficult social or economic circumstances.
Causes
Depression can occur when you experience a traumatic event or are affected by a long-term medical illness. It can also occur if you’re having problems with your menstrual cycle or you have a low blood sugar or sleep problem.
If you’re depressed, you may feel sad, hopeless and worthless most of the time. You might also find it hard to concentrate or to make decisions.
You’re more likely to develop depression if you have a family history of it. You’re also more likely to develop it if you’ve had a long-term illness or injury, such as chronic pain, head injury, heart disease or cancer.
Treatment for depression usually involves medications, psychotherapy or a combination of these. Medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and tricyclic antidepressants can help to reduce symptoms of depression. Other treatments include electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and brain stimulation therapies. These are often used when medication and psychotherapy haven’t worked. They can stimulate the brain’s messaging centers and improve the availability of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine.
Treatment
Depression is one of the most treatable mental health conditions, and approximately 80% to 90% of people who seek treatment eventually respond well.
Treatments for depression are designed to help you lift your mood and feel better. They include medication, psychotherapy and healthy lifestyle changes.
Medications can improve the symptoms of depression by changing the way your brain chemistry works. They can also help you to deal with stress and other problems.
The most effective treatments for depression involve a combination of medication and therapy. Talk to your doctor about the type of medicine or psychological therapy that is right for you.
Medications, often called antidepressants, can change the way your brain chemistry works. Several newer options are available. Other older medications, including tricyclics and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), are sometimes used for more severe depression.
Prevention
Depression is a serious condition that takes a toll on your life and health. It can be treated with medication and therapy, but there are also some things you can do to help prevent depression.
One of the best ways to prevent depression is to be proactive about taking care of your mental health. This includes getting regular exercise and avoiding unhealthy diets.
You can also try mindfulness techniques such as meditation or yoga. This can help calm your mind and reduce stress and anxiety.
Lastly, be sure to get a good night's sleep. The more sleep you have, the better your overall mood will be.
Depression can be prevented by changing your lifestyle and making sure you don't take any medications that cause depression as a side effect. It is also important to be aware of any medical conditions you may have that can affect your mood and feelings, such as an underactive thyroid.
