Depression

Not every day will be filled with rainbows and butterflies.  There will be some days in our lives when all we want to do is stay in bed.  At one point or another we will all have a feeling of sadness that creeps up on us for some reason, but usually it is short-lived and will go away in a day or two so it really isn’t a big deal.  However, these sad feelings can linger for months and we will start to notice that maybe we no longer get our daily tasks done as we should anymore, and it may start to cause our loved ones to become concerned.  It is at this point that an individual can be diagnosed with depression.  This illness is both common and serious. 

Many people suffering from a depressive illness may never seek treatment, simply because they think their routine is normal.  However, if they do seek treatment, the majority of individuals will get better.  Treatment can be provided in many forms including medications and psychotherapy.  Generally, it is a good idea to start with treatment that does not involve medication in order to see the depth of the condition and to escape the effects of the medication.  Some individuals just need someone they can count on to listen to them and provide one-on-one communication in their times of need. 

There are several types of depressive disorders.  Typically, depression is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors.  Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain.  There are diagnostic tests, such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that will produce images of the brain in order to help determine what is going on in a depressive illness.  MRI’s have shown that the brains of individuals who have depression indeed do look different that those of individuals without depression.  The parts that looked different are the ones involved in mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior.  However, MRI’s reluctantly do not give the answer as to why the depression has occurred, and they cannot be used to diagnose depression either.  Diagnosis in part generally stems from what behaviors an individual is exhibiting, and for how long the behaviors have been going on.

Depression may also tend to run in families, but it can still occur in those without family history.  In addition, a stressful situation in an individual’s life may predispose them to experiencing depression.  Examples of these situations could be trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, loss of a job, financial struggle, etc.  Any of those could spark an episode of depression.  However, some episodes may occur without a specific spark.

The signs and symptoms of a depressive illness will most likely vary; no two people will experience the exact same symptoms.  The severity, frequency, and duration of the symptoms will vary depending on the individual involved and what their current situation is.  Following is a list of common signs and symptoms that are observed in someone who is experiencing depression including, but not limited to:

ü  Persistent sad, anxious, or feelings of emptiness

ü  Feeling hopeless or relaying pessimism

ü  Feeling worthless, guilty, or helpless

ü  Irritable, restless, fatigue, decreased energy

ü  Loss of interest in what they once considered pleasurable

ü  Difficulty concentrating and making decisions

ü  Not being able to sleep, or sleeping too much

ü  Overeating or loss of appetite

ü  Suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts

If you begin to notice any of the signs and symptoms listed above, either in yourself or a loved one, please try to intervene and reach out to the individual.  Seek out medical help as soon as possible in order to prevent chronic health problems to get your life back on track and enjoy it.  The earlier you get treatment, the more effective your treatment will be. 

An important fact to remember is that another illness may have been present before the depression set in.  Therefore, the underlying illness could have caused depression to occur just because of the toll the illness was taking on the body.  It is always important to make sure that any underlying illness is addressed and treated before treatment is initiated for depression.  This is because if the underlying illness is treated and the individual begins to feel better and normal again, the depression may have just been a consequence of the illness and will also have ceased once the illness was treated.

Depression will exert its effects on each individual differently whether you are male, female, elderly, young, pregnant, etc.  

Total Home Health has a program that is right for you to help cope with your depression.  The treatment you undergo for depression will be specific to your situation and will involve you in every step of the way.  Our professional staff will be there for you to provide continued support throughout your journey.  We will be there to establish realistic goals for your care in order for you to continue your normal daily routine.  Plus, we hope that you will be able to demonstrate effective ways to cope if you are ever faced with depression again with the help of our professional staff.  Don’t wait, enroll today!