Depression
Introduction/Overview
Depression is a disease which affects the mind and body, causing emotional and physical troubles. Being depressed means you feel like you have no reason to live. The technical diagnosis is called clinical depression, and it is a life-long disease which can be treated but never disappears entirely. Many people who have severe depression will try to commit suicide if they do not receive treatment with medications and counseling.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
The symptoms of depression are numerous and you may have all of them or a few of them depending on how your body is affected by the disease. The most common signs of depression include a loss of interest in things you once loved to do, sleeping too much or not being able to sleep at all, being irritable all the time, feeling unhappy and sad, tiredness, telling yourself you are worthless and blaming yourself for things not going just right, difficulty concentrating, crying, memory loss, and not wanting to eat or eating too much. Depression symptoms also often include feeling that you can’t do anything right and excessive thoughts about dying and suicide. If you have several of these symptoms or thoughts of harming yourself, it’s time to see a doctor. He or she will do a physical exam, possibly some blood tests, and a psychological evaluation. You may need medications to restore a balance of chemicals in the brain or counseling to help you in coping with depression.
Known Causes
There is no one cause of depression but many factors can lead to depression. For instance, people who are depressed have physical differences in their brains from people who do not suffer from depression. Also, neurotransmitters do not work properly leading to chemical imbalances in the brain. Depression can be genetic, meaning that your parents passed it on to you. It is also possible for hormonal changes to cause depression. Trauma during childhood can predispose you to depression as can big stresses, such as losing someone you love.
Treatments/Procedures
The best way to treat chronic depression is with a combination of medications and psychological counseling. Among the most successful drugs at overcoming depression are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs. The most popular brand names are Zoloft, Prozac and Celexa. There are also serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), such as Cymbalta, Pristiq, and Effexor.
Other common depression and anxiety drugs include norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs), typical antidepressidants, tricyclic antidepressants, and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). Unfortunately, it may take some experimentation with different drugs to get just the right combination to help you in beating depression.
Prevention / Vaccination
Depression cannot be prevented entirely because its origin is partly genetic. You can’t get a vaccine but you can act quickly with depression self-help when you feel a deep depression coming on. Set up a good support network with family and friends. Get a good psychotherapist. Stay on your medications. And, do not drink alcohol, because alcohol itself is a depressant which only makes the situation worse. Try to maintain as positive an attitude as you can as you wait for the depression to pass.
Prognosis / Management
Depression can be managed well with therapy and medications. Learn to recognize situations which may trigger episodes of depression and avoid them. Always take your meds and stick with counseling even if it doesn’t feel like they are helping. Add exercise to your lifestyle. Exercise is one of the few things you can do to stimulate positive brain chemicals. If you are diagnosed with depression, it is very important to wear a medic alert bracelet or magnetic bracelet, identifying your disease, meds, and who to call in case of emergency.
Alternative Treatments & Products
Herbal remedies and supplements are often used to treat depression. Remember, however, that they are not a substitute for medical care. While it’s OK to try an alternative treatment to complement medications and therapy, people suffering from chronic depression should not rely solely on unproven methods. St. John’s wort, SAMe, and omega-3 fatty acids are all dietary supplements sometimes taken for depression. Other alternatives are mind/body treatments, such as guided imagery, yoga, massage, meditation, and relaxation exercises.