Depression

Depression doesn’t refer to routine sadness due to ups and down in life. A person is labeled as depressed if the state of sadness and despair remains for more than 3 months and affects daily routine of the person.

Depression makes a person feel hopeless usually, however it’s easily manageable if treated properly under supervision of an expert.

Types of depression

There are various forms of depression, including:

-       Major depression

o   Severe depressive symptoms that interfere with normal work and routine tasks including:

§  Sleep

§  Eating

§  Study

§  Enjoying life

o   Usually there’s only one episode of this type of depression in persons life, however there can be more than one too

-       Persistent depressive disorder

o   Depressed mood lasting for over 2 years

o   The person may have episodes of major depression too along with less severe symptoms periods, however those symptoms last for at least 2 years

-       Psychotic depression

o   When a person is suffering with severe depression along with any form of psychosis, such as:

§  Delusions

§  Disturbing false beliefs

§  Hallucinations

o   Postpartum depression

§  If more severe than baby blues

§  Occurs when the hormonal and physical changes along with the responsibility to take care of the newborn is quite overwhelming for the woman

§  Almost 10 to 15 percent of women experience this type of depression

o   Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

§  Characterized by onset during winters

§  Occurs due to less natural sunlight probably

§  Depression goes away during spring or summer

§  Can be treated well through light therapy alone in almost 50% of the patients

§  More than 50% of the patients need medical and psychotherapy help along with or without light therapy to cure the symptoms

o   Bipolar disorder

§  Also called manic-depressive illness

§  Not so common as compared to major depression and persistent depressive order

§  Characterized by cycling mood changes

·      From extreme highs (e.g. mania)

·      To extreme lows (e.g. depression)

Signs & symptoms of depression

People suffering from depression not always experience the same symptoms. The frequency, duration and severity of the symptoms vary among individuals too based on their particular illness and personality.

Common signs and symptoms of depression include:

-       Feeling of being hopeless

-       Pessimism

-       Persistent feeling of sadness, emptiness and anxiousness

-       Restlessness

-       Irritability

-       Loss of interest in activities that were of interest before, like hobbies, romance, etc.

-       Fatigue

-       Lack of concentration

-       Memory issues

-       Issues with decision making

-       Insomnia (lack of sleep) or excessive sleeping

-       Over eating or loss of appetite

-       Suicidal thoughts and possibly attempted suicide attempts

-       Pains and aches

o   Headaches

o   Cramps

-       Digestive issues that doesn’t respond to treatment

Depression is a serious disorder and should not be taken lightly. However, it should never be self-diagnosed and self-medication should never be started.

Consult your doctor if you’re experiencing any symptoms related to depression or any mood disorder. Your doctor might refer you to a psychiatrist to get you evaluated in detail.

Treatment of depression

Once diagnosed by an expert, depression can be managed effectively in various ways.

Most effective treatments are:

-       Life style modifications

-       Psychotherapy

-       Medication

Medication should be avoided as much as possible and used as the last resort only.

Life style modifications for depression treatment

Various life style changes can effectively help a person manage depression and other mood related issues.

These changes include:

-       Regular exercise

o   It’s very much important in helping depression and other mood related disorder patients

-       Improved social circle

o   Having a social circle with positive people helps improve ones mindset

-       Organizing various things in life

-       Automating tedious tasks

Patients might also need psychotherapy along with exercise and life style changes. Counseling helps them cope better with the condition.

Psychological treatments include:

-       Cognitive behavior therapy (CBT)

-       Interpersonal therapy (IPT)

-       Behavior therapy

-       Mindfulness based cognitive therapy (MBCT)

Certain patients who don’t respond well to the exercise, life style changes and psychotherapy can use medication as the last resort.

Remember that anti-depressive medication should be used after consultation with a psychiatrist and also as a last resort.

Medicines include:

-       SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors)

-       SNRIs (serotonin & noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors)

-       RIMAs (Reversible inhibitors of MonoAmine oxide)

-       TICAs (TriCyclic Antidepressants)

-       NaSSAs (Noradrenaline-Serotonin Specific Antidepressants)

-       NARIs (Noradrenalin Reuptake Inhibitors)

-       MAOIs (Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors)

All these drugs have shown effectiveness in cases where they were appropriate. However symptoms might take a few weeks to improve.

Note that none of the anti-depressant medicines and drugs should be used without prescription from the doctor. They should only be used in the quantity prescribed by the psychiatrist and for the duration advised by him only.