Depression is a common and serious medical disorder, it negatively affects the overall pattern of your thinking and feeling. Depression generally drains your energy, leaves you fatigued and feeling empty. The symptoms of depression must be present continuously for at least 2 weeks in order to get it diagnosed.
The condition is very much treatable, yes the treatment of depression is possible with the small steps that leave a big impact. As we all know that depression causes loss of interest, feelings of sadness; and depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems while decreasing persons’ ability to perform. Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe depends patient to patient.
With a few small steps, one can overcome the condition and improve his/her overall sense of well-being. Keep on reading to learn how to incorporate the best working strategies in such a way that makes working for you.
Causes of Depression
The causes of depression are important to understand in order to initiate the right treatment.
In simple words, the depression takes place or controls you when you find yourself against things that happening near you. This could be anything i.e. when you may expect something to happen and it did not, from that particular moment you start feeling depressed, or when you expect something or somebody to fall align your way according to your choice and that it did not happen then you start feeling depressed. In other words, you feel depressed when you are simply against what is happening. This way the depression runs deeper and deeper inside you.
Let’s have a look at the causes of depression when they don’t fall under our expectations:
- Abuse – Emotional, sexual, physical abuse becomes the depression factor.
- Conflict – The conflicts and disputes with family or friends raises signs of depression
- Certain Medication – Some particular drugs like isotretinoin, an antiviral drug, corticosteroids increase the risk of depression.
- Death or a loss – sadness, loneliness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one though is a natural but is one of the biggest causes of depression.
- Genetics – A family history of any diseases including depression may increase the risk.
- Life-changing events – Sometimes the good reasons also become the cause of depression due to overthinking of performance. Like graduating, starting a new job, getting married, etc. Likewise losing income or job, getting divorced, or leaving the home town are also a syndrome of clinical depression.
Other personal issues, serious illness, substance abuse also come under the causes of depression.
How to Treat Depression?
Treatment of depression starts with a patient’s will-power and when the inner power and strength fight together, the condition becomes treatable. Somewhat 80 to 90% cases of people with depression respond to treatment. Most patients gain relief from their symptoms gradually when they follow the regimen.
Keep reading further to know how depression is treatable or what the treatment of depression is:
Before starting a treatment let a health professional conduct a diagnostic test/evaluation and understand the severity of a patient. This may include an interview of a patient and possibly a physical examination of who is undergoing depression. A blood test may also be done in some cases to see if depression is there due to any medical condition like thyroid.
Treatment to cure depression doesn’t go the same way for example one size cannot fit all; likewise one treatment may won’t work for another. Making yourself informed as much as possible is the key to treat a condition step by step.
Now there are few ways to overcome depression. These include medication and without medication. There is nothing good beyond treating a condition without medication, this technique requires dedication and patience to treat the condition.
Also Read: Depression: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment
Treatment without Medication:
Plan activities for yourself that you like, this could be anything like start regularly meeting with friends/family, going to gym, doing exercise, brisk walk, eating good food of your choice, leaving for a vacation, spending time with your loved ones, watching favourite movies (especially the funny one) / series/shows, listening motivational songs, reading motivational quotes and interviews, attending events, playing any sports of your choice, taking a proper rest etc.
These are a few tricks that have strong possibilities to divert your mind. Follow these tricks for a few days (around 10-15 days) to see the results, still if you feel that nothing is working out then look for medication.
Treatment with Medication
Consult a Psychiatrists or your physician before you start medication.
- Antidepressants:
Antidepressants help in relieving depression symptoms. This medicine works by correcting the chemical imbalances of neurotransmitters in the brain which is believed to be responsible for the mood and behaviour changes.
If to be believed on data, the percentage of people aged twelve years and above using antidepressants in the USA rose from 7.7 percent in 1999-2002 to 12.7 percent in 2011-2014.
Antidepressants show some improvement within the first one or two weeks of use. Full benefits can be noticed in two to three months’ time. The dose can alter by a psychiatrist if a patient feels little or no improvement after several weeks. Psychiatrists usually suggest patients to continue the medication for six or more months after symptoms have improved.
- Psychotherapy:
You can also call it a ‘talk therapy,’ also. Psychotherapy has often used this therapy along with antidepressant medications. CBT (Cognitive behavioral therapy) has been found to be effective in treating depression. CBT helps patients to deal with distorted, this therapy may involve only a patient, but it can include others if needed. For example, couples or family therapy can address issues with family. Group therapy involves other people who have similar illnesses.
Depending on the severity, treatment generally takes a few weeks or months times. In many cases, significant improvement can be seen in 8 to 12 sessions.
- Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
ECT is commonly used in patients suffering from severe depression or bipolar disorder. A patient who has not responded to other treatments are recommended for this therapy. It involves a brief electrical stimulation of the brain while the patient is under anesthesia.
A patient may require a setting of 2 to 3 times a week for a few months, this therapy has shown major improvements. A team of trained medical professionals performs this therapy.
Conclusion: Depression is a real illness and help is available. Understand the causes of depression before you move forward for treatment. If you are experiencing the symptoms of depression, the first step is to talk to your family or a physician before heading for the treatment of depression.
